Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which body is responsible for pursuing the return of medical equipment loaned to patients where that equipment was supplied by (a) an NHS trust and (b) an integrated care board.

NHS England does not collect information on medical equipment loaned to National Health Service patients outside of NHS premises. NHS trusts, often in partnership with local councils and regional integrated community equipment services, loan a wide range of medical equipment devices free of charge to NHS patients, including mobility and disability aids, and it is the responsibility of the individual NHS body which loaned the medical equipment to pursue the return of that equipment. The Department has not made any estimates of the cost to the NHS of replacing medical equipment loaned to patients that is lost, damaged beyond repair, or not returned.

The NHS is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report in 2020. Since the publication of the report, NHS England continues to work to expand locally managed walking aid refurbishment and reuse schemes, which include crutches, frames, and walking sticks. A range of resources and communications tools is available to support NHS trusts and patients with returns. This includes the Recycle Now website, where patients can check their nearest drop off location by postcode. As well as hospitals, NHS England has also established systems for walking aid return at waste and recycling centres in collaboration with local authority partners. Some trusts have offered home collection services for reusable walking aids in partnership with local authorities.