A few years back I asked the NHS to collect 15 Zimmer frames from a nursing home which had closed down.

Several weeks and many phone calls later, nothing had happened, and it was only after emailing the PCT’s chief executive that they were eventually picked up.

I am in no doubt that many others will know of similar situations.

During a recent stay in hospital, a white-coated young lady appeared at my bedside and spent over an hour literally pleading with me to let her provide me with anything from a stair lift to a walking stick.

It was obvious that she had targets to meet, and she only gave up when I agreed to have a bath seat.

This week I telephoned for some hearing aid batteries and was told that they no longer sent them out by post, but I could either collect them or, if I sent a stamped addressed envelope, they would send me some.

I appreciate cuts have to be made, but when you consider the thousands of pounds the NHS must waste every year by not taking back Zimmers, crutches, walking sticks, etc, it does seem that trying to save a few pence by not sending hearing aid batteries by post is rather futile.

D Walker, Barrowford.