Volunteers and staff at Airedale General Hospital have joined forces to declare a second equipment amnesty in a bid to rescue lost wheelchairs, walking frames and other walking aids.

The hospital held a similar amnesty nearly two years ago and hundreds of pairs of crutches, walking sticks, and walking aids worth around £3,000 plus several wheelchairs, were returned during the month-long initiative.

The amnesty is being supported again by the Friends of Airedale, one of the hospital’s charities, and therapy staff at Airedale Hospital. They would like people to return any equipment they have may still have but do not use with ‘no questions asked.’ Kelvin Whiting, therapy manager at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “When wheelchairs or walking aids are no longer needed people sometimes forget to return them, or if something’s broken they worry about returning it. But we can often repair them or take serviceable parts to maintain others.

“We are appealing to people to bring back any crutches, walking sticks and wheelchairs they no longer use, which will boost our stocks and help to ensure we have enough walking and mobility aids for future patients.”

Eileen Proud, chairman of the Friends of Airedale, said: “Each wheelchair costs around £400 so even if just a few are returned it all adds up. It also means we don’t have to spend our resources replacing items that could be gathering dust in peoples’ homes.

“We want to reassure people that we aren’t worried about how long the walking aids have been kept for, which is why we hope that if people know they can return them without any comeback, they will hopefully be encouraged to do so.”

The charity has set up two areas at Airedale Hospital where people can drop off wheelchairs and other walking aids themselves - just inside the main entrance and in the outpatients department.

For people who do not have transport call the charity’s patient transport service on (01535) 294626 between 9.30am and noon, Monday to Friday and arrange for it to be collected. Messages can be left on the answer phone at other times.

The amnesty will start on Monday and will run until the end of the month.