Reeling in the Wheelchairs

Unsteady patients have made off with tens of thousands of pounds worth of wheelchairs ...and now North Devon District Hospital wants them back.

Over the past two years more than 32 wheelchairs have gone missing from the main hospital site in Barnstaple.  Now an amnesty is being  held to get them back - no questions asked.

The wheelchairs are all clearly marked with 'NDDH' in white lettering but this hasn't put people off from wheeling them away.

To replace them would cost about thirty-five thousand pounds.

The hospital says most go missing when they're used to transport patients  to private taxis or ambulances. 

Linda Lewis, hotel services co-ordinator at NDHT, said: "It is clear that the Trust cannot continue to fund replacement wheelchairs. We are asking anyone who has seen one of our wheelchairs off site to contact us as soon as possible to arrange for it to be collected."

To report the whereabouts of an NDDH wheelchair, contact Linda Lewis on 01271 314 055 or email Linda.lewis@sodexo.com

ENDS