I WRITE regarding the appeal by Oxfordshire community hospitals for patients to return unused crutches (Oxford Mail, August 9).

I live in Holland and recently had a knee replacement. I received crutches on loan, not from the hospital, but from our local home help organisation.

My name, address was registered, and the loan was for 13 weeks. I also received a letter asking if I wanted to extend my loan for another 13 weeks.

Why on earth don’t UK hospitals get their act together and register the loan of these items? Then they could be traced and people fined for not returning things.

Jenny Cockshull Rotterdam Netherland