ACCIDENT and emergency staff at two Teesside hospitals have declared a crutch amnesty due to falling stocks.
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust lends about 5,000 pairs of crutches out each year and the situation has become critical, particularly at the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, where supplies have all but run out.
The trust is asking people who have been issued with crutches, but don't need them any more, to take them back to their local hospital.
Accident and emergency consultant Alex Thomas said: "We know that returning crutches is the last thing on anyone's mind when they're properly back on their feet again after breaking a leg or foot. However, we need the crutches for other patients, so we're asking people to come and hand them in at accident and emergency.
"I'm sure many people put them away in a cupboard and forget all about them, but it's always worth reminding people to just have a look around the house and hand them in if they've inadvertently hung on to them."
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