Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS-supplied (a) crutches, (b) wheelchairs and (c) other such mobility aids that have been broken are repaired rather than disposed of.

It is the responsibility of local National Health Service commissioned services to ensure that crutches, wheelchairs and other such mobility aids which have been broken are repaired rather than disposed of.

The Government recognises the importance of repairing and recycling crutches, wheelchairs and other such mobility equipment where it is safe and cost effective to do so, however it is a matter for local determination. This is often jointly arranged between both the NHS and local authorities.