PATIENTS are urged to give back crutches and wheelchairs no longer needed as part of an amnesty on medical equipment.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has organised drop-off points across the area from Monday, May 11, to Friday, May 15, for people to anonymously return recovery aids - no matter how long they have had them or what condition they are in.

The trust, which runs the 1,000-bed James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton and the community and primary care hospitals in Redcar, Guisborough, Brotton, Richmond and Thirsk, recently had to buy more syringe pumps costing £70,000 which, it said, should have gone into patient care.

It's last published annual report (2013/2014) warned that unless savings could be found and productivity improved, its debt would worsen to £48.3m for 2015/16.

A spokeswoman said: “No matter what size or value of equipment, or indeed if it is in working order, all be assessed by the trust’s medical engineering team. The team will safety test the returned items, repair them or strip them down for repairs.”

Medical equipment can be dropped off at the north and south entrances at The James Cook University Hospital, the main reception at Redcar Primary Care Hospital, receptions at Guisborough Primary Care Hospital, East Cleveland Primary, Brotton and Friary Community Hospital, Richmond and the logistics and delivery centre, at the Friarage Hospital from 8.30am to 1pm only.

Bill Todd, head of procurement and medical engineering, added: “As healthcare has advanced it has become more reliant on equipment and technology, and in order to continue to invest and use precious NHS resource effectively, it is essential that we do not waste money on replacing equipment unnecessarily.”