A MAN who tried to return NHS equipment loaned to his late mother says he was shocked to be told: “It’s hardly worth picking up.”

Joe Moore’s mum Marie passed away recently at the age of 91. She had had mobility problems following a fall and was given disability aids to help her continue living at her home in Christchurch.

After she died, Mr Moore telephoned the contact number on the equipment.

“He said it was hardly worth picking up. I said: ‘This stuff is new’. I was rather gobsmacked,” Mr Moore told the Echo.

“I said: ‘What do I do with it?’ and he told me to dispose of it. I asked if it would be OK to take it to the Red Cross and he said that would be fine.

“I was feeling sorry for the NHS because it needs to save money. They were good to loan the stuff to my mother, but this is ridiculous. All this equipment can be used for somebody else.”

Dorset Integrated Community Equipment Service (DICES), set up by NHS Dorset and Dorset County Council, supplies the equipment. It has switched to a retail scheme for smaller items such as walking aids, toilet aids and perching stools.

A spokesperson for NHS Dorset explained: “The customer or their representative can keep or dispose of the items as they see fit. This arrangement came about as it was calculated that overall, collection and recycling costs would be greater than the value of the individual item.”

Two retailers contracted to supply small items on behalf of DICES have set up their own collection service, but equipment issued before April 1 will still carry the old number – although anyone ringing it should be told the correct telephone number.

Chris Baxter, of DICES, said: “We apologise for any inconvenience that this change in arrangements may have caused. We would like to thank people for their patience and under-standing. We always appreciate it when people take the time to return equipment”.

l To return smaller items, ring 0800 4320 179 if you are in east or north Dorset, or 0808 1683 168 if you are in south or west Dorset.