Patients urge action over healthcare kit 'chaos'

Paralysed by multiple sclerosis, Bob Eades has been trying and failing to get his hoists serviced

"No one seems to know what's going on" following the collapse of a major medical equipment supplier, an MS patient has told the BBC.

Bob Eades described the "nightmare" of trying to get someone to service the hoists his carers need to get him out of bed in the morning.

He's among a number of frustrated patients and carers who have said there is a medical equipment "crisis" after national supplier NRS Healthcare went bust.

Councils that supply items like hoists and pressure cushions to patients at home previously said "essential" equipment was being provided.

But some patients said they had been forced to buy items themselves, while others have struggled to return things they no longer need or get existing items serviced.

Mr Eades, from Bournemouth, said: "Being paralysed with MS, the hoist is vital because it's the only way they get me from the wheelchair to my bed at night or from the bed in the morning to my wheelchair."

He said if his hoists were not serviced before the end of the month, his carers would not be allowed to use them.

"I can't stay in bed for long periods of time because it's uncomfortable and the risk of bed sores," he said. "So unless the hoist works, I'm stuck."

Bill Edwards said he was forced to buy a piece of equipment for their home before his wife Linda was allowed out of hospital

Mr Eades said over the last month he has phoned the social care team at BCP Council, his occupational therapist, the area's new equipment supplier, Medequip, as well as asked his MS nurse, district nurse and carers.

It's basically a nightmare trying to find someone who's got the authority to book a service," he said.

BCP Council said it had a new supplier, Medequip, and there was a contact page on its website for patients or carers with queries.

A BCP Council spokesperson said: "On the day that Medequip became the new provider for Dorset's Community Equipment Service, BCP Council and partners made sure residents and care professionals had the latest information at their fingertips.

"We worked closely with partners in the weeks afterwards to share these changes and continue to hold briefings with health and social care teams to resolve any operational issues."

Bill Edwards, from Southsea, Hampshire, said he was told in August his wife could not leave hospital until he had bought a patient transfer platform called a rotunda or Etac.

"Either I left Linda in the rehab unit waiting for the NHS to provide a rotunda or I purchased one," he said.

He said the Etac cost £295 and took a month to buy, and then get a missing part delivered, before his wife was allowed home in September.

Mr Edwards said: "I was cross because there must be disabled people out there and carers who can't afford to get equipment."

His wife said it felt "terrible" to be stuck in hospital, adding: "I didn't feel that I should have been in there all that time. I just wanted to come home."

She said she felt guilty because someone else might have needed her bed on the ward.

A large amount of healthcare equipment was spotted at a supplier's depot in Theale

A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We would like to apologise to Mr and Mrs Edwards for their experience, it has fallen short of the standards we strive to meet for every service user.

"There were issues with the supply of equipment beyond our control."

Portsmouth and Southampton city councils, which manage the equipment supply contract in the area, said equipment was supplied by prescription only and so those in need should contact their clinical practitioner.

People needing to return equipment or need existing equipment serviced should contact their new supplier, Millbrook Healthcare, directly.

NRS Healthcare had contracts to supply about 40% of the equipment needed in the community in England, before going into liquidation in August.

In the south NRS supplied equipment to people across Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Dorset.

Councils that manage the supply contracts for their own social care departments, as well as many NHS community trusts, said they quickly made "contingency plans".

'Financial crisis'

A large amount of medical equipment was spotted piled up in a metal container in a supply depot in Theale earlier this month.

The BBC has asked West Berkshire Council for an explanation, but has not received a response.

The union, Unison, which represents many care workers said the sector was in "financial crisis" and their members could not provide "safe, dignified support" without basic equipment.

A spokesperson said: "Following the collapse of NRS Healthcare, some local authorities were forced to make rapid storage arrangements.

"In some cases, equipment hasn't been stored properly. That means vital and costly items have been left damaged or unusable.

"These are serious and avoidable losses at a time when every piece of equipment matters."