Crutches are on the list of items that sometimes end up in people's sheds and garages instead of being returned to hospitals. Photo: 123RF
Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley wants people to return medical equipment that is no longer needed so it can be used for new patients.
Items such as crutches, walking frames, shower stools and raised toilet seats make up 14 percent of equipment loaned each year which is not returned.
Head of in-house services Tina Ririnui said anyone who had come through the hospitals should spend some time looking for any equipment they had taken home with them.
They were asked to check their cupboards, rooms, sheds, and garages for any unused hospital items that could be handed back to hospitals.
On average across the regions hospitals lent 365 items per week with only 324 of these being returned, however, other items such as moon boots, strapping or linen did not need to be handed back.
Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley said almost $674,000 per year was spent on having to buy new equipment which could instead be spent on improving health services for communities.
Ririnui said people could call the health body to arrange for the equipment to be picked up if it was difficult for them to return it to hospital themselves.
"We lend patients equipment such as walking frames, crutches, shower stools, raised toilet seats, and walking frames to help them recover from surgery, illness, or injuries.
"We also know that life gets busy, and sometimes people forget to return those items - which is why we don't mind how long you've had them, we'll take them back no questions asked."
If a person's recovery was taking longer than expected, they could phone the hospital to arrange keeping an item for longer or email equipmentreturns@ccdhb.org.nz.