Hospital trust announces wheelchair amnesty week

Wheelchairs, which are made available for the use of patients and visitors to the West Suffolk Hospital are disappearing from the site.

A recent audit failed to account for 47 of the 166 wheelchairs owned by the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust. The wheelchairs, which cost £200, are all clearly marked with the name of the trust. An audit carried out less than a year ago recorded a similar loss.

“The lack of available wheelchairs is a source of complaints from patients and visitors to the hospital," said Sue Vincent, Senior Nurse, Capital and Service Planning.

"However, I am very reluctant to spend £6,000 on replacing the wheelchairs only to find that they go missing again. The money could be better spent on other patient services.

"This is why the trust has decided to announce an amnesty week when people can return wheelchairs, marked with the trust's name, to the hospital and no questions will be asked.

Wheelchair amnesty week will run from Monday 10 April to Sunday 16 April. Chairs should be taken to the front reception where staff will make sure they are fully checked before returning to use in the hospital.

Wheelchairs are kept in the Accident and Emergency Department and by the front and rear hospital entrances for use on the hospital site. If patients are assessed as needing a wheelchair for use at home staff put them in contact with the various agencies in the county who provide chairs for this purpose.

"I am keeping my fingers crossed that if people see one of our wheelchairs anywhere other than in the hospital that they will return it during amnesty week. We will be very grateful to them," said Sue Vincent.

28 March 2000

West Suffolk Hospital    Hardwick Lane    Bury St Edmunds    Suffolk IP33 2Q