After surgery, many patients use walking aids.
This includes crutches, walking sticks and zimmer frames.
When they get better and no longer need a walking aid patients are supposed to return them to their hospital so that they can be re-used or recycled. This doesn't always happen, for a number of different reasons - people forget, or get busy, or want to hold on to their walking aid just in case they need it in the future.Â
That's why we're holding a 'Walking Aid Amnesty' at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.Â
The Walking Aid Amnesty will give people an opportunity to return their unused walking aids to ensure that we can re-use and recycle and help the NHS be as green as possible. This is an important initiative, according to Physiotherapist Georgia Wells:
"Giving patients access to the right equipment after their surgery is a priority to help them recover safely. We want to ensure that we can provide walking aids to all of our patients, while also ensuring that we act as sustainably as possible. That means re-using what we can and recycling what we can't."
The Walking Aid Amnesty coincides with Greener Allied Health Professional (AHP) Week 2024 which is an opportunity for AHPs to contribute to delivering a Net Zero NHS. As the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS, AHPs have an important role to play in supporting sustainability.Â
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital has a dedicated Green Plan and has undertaken a number of initiatives to support a Net Zero NHS.Â
How to participate in the Walking Aid Amnesty  Â
We invite everyone to drop off their unused walking aids at two locations:
Outpatient Department (Gate C)
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Bristol Road South
Northfield
Birmingham
B31 2AP
ROH at College GreenÂ
Health and Wellbeing Centre
1 Bristol Rd South,
Birmingham
B31 2GH
There's no need to book, or tell us you are coming, just look for the blue bin and leave your walking aids with us. If you have any questions, please contact
