A shortage of medical aids that enable people to live independently at home has prompted Devon County Council and NHS to declare a month-long amnesty.

Anyone who's got equipment at home that's no longer needed can return it free of charge until the end of August.

Stocks are running low of equipment including four-wheeled walking frames, raised toilet seats, hoists, hospital beds, clinical mattresses and pressure cushions.

The company that provides these items on behalf of the council and health service, Millbrook Healthcare Ltd, is offering to collect them free of charge from people's homes.

Anyone wanting a collection should call 0330 124 8214

Glen Baxter of Millbrook Healthcare said: "Our drivers will do their best, but we'll need to prioritise collections depending on what items are in highest demand, and any staffing pressures created by the pandemic.

"We thank people in advance for their understanding and patience, and assure people we will be in touch to arrange collection of their items over the coming weeks."

Wheelchairs are not included in the amnesty, though, as they're not provided by Millbrook.

Why is there a shortage of this equipment?

Continued high levels of coronavirus cases world-wide have been causing disruption to outbound supplies, especially from Asia where many independent living equipment items are manufactured and shipped from.

In addition, recent lockdowns and Covid-19 risks mean manufacturing factories are working on reduced capacity, increasing supplier lead-in times on many equipment lines.

Glen Baxter said: "We deliberately built our stocks up last year, but conditions right now are very challenging.

"With no sign of the situation improving soon, Millbrook Healthcare Ltd, Devon County Council and NHS Devon CCG, are calling an 'equipment amnesty', asking people who no longer need their community equipment, to return it free of charge."

The authorities ran the amnesty for the first time last year, and it resulted in hundreds of items being returned, refurbished, sterilised and put back into use in the community.

Millbrook Healthcare Ltd already operates a re-use service throughout the year. People can leave certain items at council-run household waste recycling centres for collection by Millbrook. What can be re-used is refurbished and put back into the system, and items that can't are recycled or given to charity as overseas aid.