Let the Lions do the leg Work!
The Exeter Lions Club are making it easier for people to return their NHS crutches, walking sticks and frames to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital when they are back on their feet.
Their campaign – Let the Lions do the leg work – has seen thousands of pounds worth of NHS walking aid equipment safely returned by Lions volunteers since its launch in 2011.
The charity volunteers have been collecting hospital crutches, walking sticks and frames from local GP surgeries and community hospitals in Exeter and East Devon (including Topsham, Tiverton, Starcross, Whimple, Ottery St Mary, and Woodbury Salterton). This has saved patients the trouble of having to make a special trip back to the RD&E Wonford to hand back the equipment.
In recent months, the numbers of equipment being returned has dropped significantly, so the RD&E and the Exeter Lions Club are keen to remind people how easy it is to return the equipment to their local GP and help save the NHS money.
Vice-President of Exeter Lions Club Stephan Bouloux said: “We appreciate that the rural nature of Devon and busy lifestyles can hamper the return of this property to the hospital so we have volunteers who are willing to do the running around for former patients to benefit our NHS locally.”
RD&E Physiotherapy clinical lead for Trauma and Orthopaedics Rob Wickins said: “We are very grateful to the Exeter Lions Club for going out of their way to gather in this equipment from surrounding towns. Our patients are directly benefitting from their efforts and the safe return of these items makes best use of our resources and public money.”
The initiative was originally the idea of Lion Club member Angie Whawell of Crediton who experienced first-hand when she broke her ankle, the practical obstacles and disincentives in rural Devon which can make it difficult getting back the equipment to the hospital.
Patients in Exeter and East Devon can return their unrequired NHS crutches, walking frames and sticks to their local GP surgery or community hospital (including Topsham, Tiverton, Starcross, Whimple, Ottery St Mary, and Woodbury Salterton). The Exeter Lions Club will collect and return the equipment back to the hospital.
