HC Deb 01 March 1988 vol 128 cc552-3W
Mrs. Maureen Hicks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on how much money is lost to the National Health Service each year as a result of health authorities not repossessing physical support appliances such as crutches, hearing aids and wheelchairs.

Mrs. Currie

[holding answer 26 February 1988]: Arrangements for the return of items they provide are the responsibility of individual health authorities. No information is available on the revenue which might be lost as a result of non-return of disability equipment. It is known that many health authorities take steps to recover unused items but studies have shown that it is not always cost effective to retrieve and recondition equipment for reasons of expense, safety and hygiene.