Thank you for contacting me about medicine and medical equipment.
I note your concerns over reducing waste in the procurement and use of medicines and equipment in the NHS. I would like to reassure you that existing NHS England guidelines advise NHS Trusts to reuse medical equipment when safe and appropriate to do so. For example, Trusts are encouraged to reuse crutches, frames and walking sticks to help improve access for patients and save money. This also provides an excellent opportunity for carbon savings due to the high greenhouse gas intensity of aluminium manufacture.
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