New Covid-19 lockdown prompts fresh call to hand back unwanted social and healthcare equipment
People in Oxfordshire are again being urged to return unused health and social care equipment loaned to them so others can take advantage of it.
Worldwide manufacturing of items including bed rails, pendent alarm equipment/ sensors (telecare) and mattresses has slowed because of the Covid-19 epidemic, meaning new ones may be harder to come by.
Oxfordshire County Council teamed up in April with Oxford Health, Oxford University Hospitals and supplier NRS Healthcare through the Hand it Back campaign to encourage people to get unused items collected from them so they can be recycled.
Stephen Chandler, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director for Adult Social Care and Housing, said: “We have a great response earlier in the year from people returning items and now we’re asking again for residents to have a quick check around their homes or homes of those they care for.”
“An unused chair, bed rail or piece of equipment can be recycled and used by somebody else in need so we would appreciate your support with this.”
The pieces of unused equipment being sought are:
- chairs, beds, bed rails and mattresses
- wheeled commodes
- any electrical items
- walking and toilet frames
- pendent alarm equipment/sensors (Telecare)
- slings
All items for return must have a barcoded NRS or Millbrook sticker on them.
Because of the pandemic, all items can be collected by NRS Healthcare or taken to the Bicester depot.
People must not take any items back to health or social care buildings.
Anybody wanting to give back equipment can arrange a collection by calling NRS Healthcare on 01869 225420 or by sending their details to enquiries@oxfordshire.nrs-uk.net.
Opening hours 8.30am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
The NRS Bicester Depot can be found at Unit 8 Longlands Road OX26 5AH