How Much Will NHS Crutches Be?

WhatRecovery

Old lady next door to me keeps asking me if the gov's new idea to charge for crutches will include other things that aren't temporary (she needs her walking frame every day,now the weather's warmer she likes to go down as far as the shops herself) and seems very anxious about whether she'll be able to afford it and have to give it back.) I didn't know anything about it and looked it up and it does seem very worrying, maybe the thin end of the wedge.


It might hurt older, frail pensioners, low income patients with no pennies left over who might have to choose either to pay for support equipment they cant manage without or save those hire costs to pay for essentials, like warmth or food.
The NHS haves and have-nots in the NHS pre second world war will be back,when health and life depended on the size of your moneybags.


Anyway, it's a false economy because probably people will just get worse and not be independent any more, costing us more in Care Workers and hospital bills. Seems a really strange way to save miniscule amount of pennies in charging oldies for crutches! Surely more admissions to hospital, visits to the GP, A and E etc is what we re trying to avoid! worsening the issue that ws the problem that the charging is supposed to solve in the first place!

elsien

It's not a government thing, it's a proposal by one authorities commissioning group, that they're throwing out there for consultation. Tell your neighbor not to panic, after the reaction the idea got they've backtracked at speed and are saying there are no proposals to take it further.

margaretclare

I have heard that an awful lot of money gets wasted on crutches, zimmers etc which are not given back when no longer needed. You can see why this thought has come up.

If the lady next door already has a zimmer, uses it and needs it, then maybe she's worrying unnecessarily.

cupcake4

When I took my crutch back after surgery, hospital seemed very surprised!

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-patients-face-charges-for-walking-sticks-crutches-and-braces-9265907.html

The idea was widely condemned.

:T

cheekyweegit

cupcake4 wrote: »

When I took my crutch back after surgery, hospital seemed very surprised!

Same here, I had two sets of grey crutches, and walking sticks after foot surgery and returned them all. Like you they seemed shocked, but it's not something you are going to keep "just in case you need them in the future" is it ?

janiebquick

Many items lent out in this way are never returned. Perhaps a deposit scheme is the fairer way to go?

C_Mababejive

Sounds like a good idea. Its what happens in other countries such as Spain i.e buy crutches,hire a wheelchair etc. How much NHS equipment is left in peoples homes and garages? How many people keep a walking stick or crutch handy as a prop for their dodgy DLA claim?

scotsbob

I damaged tendons and ligaments in a sports accident 3 years ago and got crutches off Ebay for £15. Four months later I sold them on Ebay for £10.
I just checked again and £15 seems to be average for new.

I probably could have got them on NHS but that would involve endless appointments, waiting in queues, proving ID with a gas bill, dealing with receptionists etc etc.

Twopints

They'll probably cost an arm and a leg

:beer:

C_Mababejive

Maybe the answer is to make people pay a deposit to borrow equipment and fine them if it isnt returned,or for less expensive equipment,they can buy it and then resell it when it isnt needed. No wonder the country is crippled (!)...Many people expect too much for nothing as a right.