GREEDY former hospital patients have tried to sell NHS equipment for a few pounds, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Disbelieving readers have told us scandalous stories of people trying to sell crutches, sticks and walking frames at car boot sales across the south since we launched our You Can Help Your NHS campaign.

Some have even tried to sell items to places such as Cash Converters, rather than return them to hospital.

The campaign, backed by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Health Secretary Alan Milburn, aims to save the NHS in the south £500,000 being wasted by thoughtless patients.

By selling health service equipment, these patients are depriving others desperately in need of crutches and walking frames to aid their recovery.

Last year, more than £9,000 was lost by Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust alone as 75 per cent of people failed to return walking frames, and half of those loaned crutches and walking sticks did not bring them back.

Instead of spending money on vital patient care, the trust then had to fork out to replace all the equipment lost.

One Southampton nurse, who did not want to be named, said she was appalled to see crutches owned by the NHS on stalls at car boot sales in the area.

She added: "Some people try to sell their crutches at car boot sales, and at Cash Converters.

"People have been given these to help with pain and they're selling them."

Chris Laker, sales assistant at Cash Converters in Shirley, said people had been into the shop trying to sell NHS equipment they no longer needed, instead of returning it to the hospital.

But he added: "We usually turn that sort of thing away because we're not allowed to sell them.

"We either tell them to take them back to the hospital, or we just refuse to buy them."

Marilyn Kay, spokeswoman for Southampton General Hospital, said people had no right to sell NHS equipment. She said: "It's dishonest and most people would think that it's wrong and frankly rather immoral."

Patients are encouraged to return equipment once they have finished with it, but those who cannot can call 023 8079 6218 or 023 8079 4852 to arrange for collection.