HEALTH staff are appealing to former patients to return crutches and walking sticks that are no longer needed.

More than £2,000 worth of walking sticks, crutches and frames goes missing each year from the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust.

They are loaned to patients to help them get mobile again - but often they are not returned.

Physiotherapy and occupational therapy staff are now pleading with people to bring them back.

Director of community services Rose Critchley said: "It is quite difficult for us to ensure that every item of equipment loaned out is returned, largely because of the large geographical area we cover, so we rely on patients to return sticks and crutches as soon as they have finished with them.

"Recently a member of staff rescued some crutches from a council amenity tip, and discovered that this is quite a common occurrence. When you think that this is all costing the NHS - and ultimately members of the public through taxes - money, we would plead that people act more responsibly."

The trust fears that some people may not be returning such items because they feel guilty at having kept them for so long which is why the trust is holding an amnesty. Equipment can be returned at the Trust's community hospitals - the Rutson in Northallerton, the Friary in Richmond or the Lambert in Thirsk - or at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton. Alternatively people can return them to their GP practice or health centre.