THOUSANDS of NHS crutches, walking sticks and zimmer frames are seemingly being dumped in attics, rubbish bins and charity shops, rather than being returned and recycled.

Data released under Freedom of Information laws suggested the cash-strapped East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) was buying in about 9,000 new items each year, at a cost of more than £80,000.

Bosses said they have made efforts to encourage discharged patients to return their equipment through press and radio campaigns, but acknowledged the number of items returned was 'still quite low'.

The Royal College of Nursing has recently spoken out on the issue, saying it was 'a great source of frustration to staff that the NHS has to spend money replacing items not returned'.

But the Lancashire Telegraph has also heard reports of patients trying to return their £15 zimmer frame, or £8 crutches, and being told they cannot be returned because they had not been sterilised.

ELHT said emergency patients who are issued with equipment for short term use are encouraged to return them, and these are cleaned and recycled where possible.

A spokesman added: "ELHT's physiotherapy department issues a large range of walking aids to all non-elective patients who need them.

"Patients who only need these walking aids for short term use, are encouraged to return them after use and after a visual inspection, cleaning to prevent cross infection and refurbishment of any disposable parts, they are recycled wherever possible.

"Despite a number of campaigns in the local press and local radio the number of pieces of equipment being returned, is still quite low."

But the spokesman added that patients undergoing planned or scheduled treatment can receive free equipment under the ‘retail model’, where they are given a prescription and the equipment is deemed ‘disposable’.

These patients are told it is 'not cost effective' to collect, clean, store and reissue most items.