Amnesty equipment return to begin in Powys

AN amnesty which will allow equipment that helps people live independently but is now no longer needed, to be returned to council and health authorities stocks, is due to start soon.

It was revealed by Social Services chiefs at a meeting of Powys County Council’s Health and Care committee on Wednesday, September 8 that the equipment returning amnesty could be Wales wide.

This could be the answer to a shortage of equipment due to supply chain pressures which has been caused by coronavirus.

Equipment includes, wheelchairs, crutches hoists, hospital beds, toileting aids that help people live independently at home.

Cllr Daniel Rowlands who works as a nurse, asked whether families are asked to return equipment once it’s use has finished?

Cllr Rowlands said: “We’re seeing a similar theme in the NHS due to the lack of equipment, we are asking the families who have come through the children’s ward I work on, if they can drop it off to be reused.”

The council’s executive director for people and organisational development, Alison Bulman said: “I was talking to colleagues across Wales about an amnesty, we are expecting people to return equipment to us so we can sanitise it an recycle it back into our stock.”

“Because the manufacturing costs have gone up significantly, we were talking about an amnesty for people to return equipment across Wales if they haven’t done so far.”

She said that she would use the meeting as a platform to issue a plea to Powys residents.

“Please let us know if you are not using equipment, we can arrange its return,” said Ms Bulman,

Cllr Kath Roberts-Jones added that the department should check with recycling centres to find out what had been handed in there.

Cllr Roberts-Jones said: “My husband needed a pair of crutches not very long ago and someone said go down to Potters, (Welshpool Household Waste Recycling Centre) there’s plenty of them there.”

“Apparently there were dozens of them down there, they cost him something like 30 pence, I was really astounded.

“If they don’t want it people are recycling it – I don’t think that people always realise they can give stuff back.”

Ms Bulman said that work to publicise the equipment amnesty campaign would start soon.