We're asking the community to return hospital equipment they no longer need.
For the month of April, the ‘crutches, no grudges’ campaign will encourage the return of equipment with no questions asked.
“We’re asking people to return equipment once their doctor or clinical team says it’s no longer needed,” says Physiotherapist Paula Bruce.
“It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had them, we really need our crutches and walking frames to be returned and anything else you have at home. This includes items like wheelchairs, shower stools, toileting equipment, air mattresses, pumps, hospital beds, among others.
“People sometimes simply don’t get around to returning equipment, or they put it away and forget – but this means another person in need may miss out, or face delays in being able to leave the hospital and go home.”
While Hauora Tairāwhiti doesn’t have a shortage of medical equipment to lend, unreturned items need to be replaced – using funds that would be better spent on newer equipment and technologies.
If anyone knows of any equipment that’s simply sitting unused and unneeded in their home or garage, please return them to any of our collection points below:
- Gisborne District Council customer service centre on Fitzherbert Street
- HB Williams Memorial Library
- Gisborne Hospital Main Entrance