Community equipment collected from household waste recyling centres - Barnstaple recycling centres

Donated equipment, including commodes, walking frames, perching and shower stools, is being collected from households across the county following an appeal by Devon County Council for community equipment which is no longer being used.

The call went out last week to avoid potential shortages of such items, which are used by people to remain independent at home during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Millbrook Healthcare Ltd, which works with Devon County Council to provide community equipment, is collecting the donated items from households across the county to be re-used after testing and cleaning.

Devon County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres, where members of the public often leave unwanted items of equipment, have also helped.

This week their contractor Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd collected more than 250 pieces of community equipment left at recycling centres across Devon to deliver it to Millbrook's Exeter depot.

Millbrook has taken more than 600 calls so far from members of the public offering a wide range of community equipment they no longer need.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for adult social care and health, said: “Some of the equipment that the Millbrook team has so far collected has already been checked, tested, decontaminated and is back out in the community helping other people to remain as independent as possible at home.

“The response to the appeal has been amazing! We think that we've now received more than 450 pieces of equipment so far and the figure is rising.

"I’d like to thank everyone who has phoned with offers of equipment they no longer need.”

Devon County Councillor Andrea Davis, who is responsible for the Council’s household waste recycling centres, said: “Recycling centres are important collection points for no longer used community equipment and in normal times we arrange regular collections by Millbrook for accumulated equipment. I’m pleased that we’ve been able to respond to the appeal, and that equipment left at our sites is already being re-used to support people at home.

"Thanks as well to the team at Suez. Our household waste recycling centres are temporarily closed at the moment, but they’ve driven around the centres and collected equipment for delivery to Millbrook”.

Larger items of community equipment that are still highly sought after include, profiling beds, pressure relieving mattresses, mobile hoists and patient turners. To donate an item of community equipment that you are no longer needing, please telephone Millbrook Care to arrange a free collection, on 0330 124 4491.