Case study submitted as part of Lancet Commission call for case studies.
Team members / location: Albin Sabu John, Rachel Cottam, Helen McAlinney / Yorkshire, England
Issue: Low return rates of walking aids, leading to challenges in recycling, cost inefficiencies, and cluttering of space within the trust.
Intervention:
- Implementing an amnesty program
- Creating awareness among patients to return aids
- Improving labelling and tracking
- Employing external staff for decontamination
- Establishing partnerships with equipment suppliers
Outcomes:
- Environmental - Reduced carbon footprint through recycling efforts.
- Social - Promotion of social inclusion by providing employment opportunities to diverse groups.
- Financial - Cost savings through recycling and potential revenue generation from returned aids.
- Clinical - Patient outcomes: Improved patient outcomes due to better access to walking aids when needed. Population outcomes: Enhanced population outcomes through increased employability opportunities.
Key learning point:
- Importance of clear communication to change perceptions
- Effective tracking and labelling systems
- Collaboration with external partners
- Considering social and environmental impacts in strategic planning
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