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<p>The Department published the inaugural Medical Technology Strategy in February
2023, which included a focus on improving resource efficiency. The Department is working
with industry, the health and care sector, and academic partners to develop medical
technology systems that support reuse, remanufacture, and material recovery, by default.
The Department is exploring options for reuse, remanufacture, and material recovery
in medical devices, through its Design for Life programme. This includes developing
regulatory, commercial, and infrastructure and policy environments that support these
aims. As part of the programme, the Department recognises we will need to define future
data requirements, and align digital infrastructure to improve the gathering of core
data. <br> <br></p><p><br> NHS England has developed a waste planning tool for all
National Health Service providers, consistent with the Clinical Waste Strategy, which
includes improved waste segregation, minimisation, and increased reuse programmes.
This will lead to reductions in the road miles the waste travels, increases in the
use of re-usable sharps bins, and furthers plans made towards the achievement of Net
Zero Carbon from waste management. <br> <br> NHS England has an ambition to expand
existing walking aid refurbishment schemes. Arrangements for the return and reuse
of walking aids are managed locally, and a number of NHS trusts already have local
return and reuse schemes, with over 200 return sites now featured on the Recycle Now
website. Further information is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.recyclenow.com/recycle-an-item/walking-aids"
target="_blank">https://www.recyclenow.com/recycle-an-item/walking-aids</a></p>
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