Amnesty declared for hospitals’ missing wheelchairs – No questions asked!

They’re like London buses – when you want one there’s none, when you don’t want one they’re lined up.   Wheelchairs are a bit like that but it doesn’t help when 30 go missing!   That is what has happened at Ashford and St. Peter’s hospitals over the last 18 months.   The cost of each chair is £250 which the hospitals can ill afford to pay out time and again.

Portering Shift Co-ordinator Pauline Foster says: “In the last 18 months at least 30 wheelchairs have gone missing which have been taken from the two hospitals without staff knowledge.  This is especially annoying as we do have a few chairs which we are able to loan out on a temporary basis.   These have to be signed for so that we know where they are.   Unfortunately some people seem to think that it’s all right to just remove wheelchairs without asking.

“We would ask the public to inform us of any chairs that they see in their area, in any condition.  Most of the chairs have ‘St. Peters Hospital Portering Department’ or ‘Ashford Hospital Portering Department’ and a number written in white lettering on the chair backs.    We can have wheelchairs repaired and/or overhauled, so even if they are slightly damaged we can still use them.   We’re happy to collect the wheelchairs, no questions asked!”

To arrange collection please contact the Portering departments on 01932-722036 at St. Peter’s Hospital or 01784-884348 atAshford Hospital.   Alternatively items can be brought to the main entrance reception desks at both hospitals.   We are also happy to receive any other medical equipment which has been loaned or inadvertently kept, such as crutches and walking frames.