SWF Helath &Social Care Group was established to look after the health and social care interests of the people of South Woodham Ferrers, recognising the roles of health and social care related professionals, volunteers and the Patient Participation Groups.Click here for more information. 

The latest reports to the Events, Community & Leisure Committee are below;

Health and Social Care Group Report 3rd February 2026

Health and Social Care Group Report 14th April 2026

Health and Social Care Group Report 7th July 2026 

Do you have medical equipment in your home lent out by NHS or Social Care Services in Essex? Essex County Council are asking for this to be returned if it is no longer needed. Thousands of pounds is lost each year because of equipment not being returned once it is finished with.

You might have:

•Wheeled adjustable frames

• Adjustable walking sticks

• Crutches

• Chair raisers

• Commodes

• Bed levers

• Perching stools

• Raised toilet seats

• Pressure cushions

• Toilet frames

• Trolleys

Medequip will come and collect any equipment you have lying around. You can call 0333 034 2048 or email essex@medequip-uk.com to organise a collection or you can find your nearest drop-off point at mq-uk.com/return-essex. If you decide to drop your equipment off you will see a large blue amnesty bin to drop it in. By returning this equipment, you ensure it is recycled instead of it ending up in a landfill.

You will save the NHS and Essex Social Care money which can be used to provide more care to those in need. Please share this information with friends and relatives who may also have unused equipment lying around.

Chelmsford City Council provide a free clinical waste collection service for residential properties within the Chelmsford area, via a company called Medisort.

They will collect syringes, needles or other sharps if they are in a prescription empty sharps container.

You can get an empty sharps container from a chemist or buy them online. You may also get a one-off container when you are discharged from hospital. They can collect all of these.

If you have a district nurse attending your home, they must take their waste away with them.

If you are undergoing private treatment, you must arrange your own private clinical waste collection.

Medisort will also collect:

• human tissue
• blood and other bodily fluids
• swabs and dressings

However, they will only collect these items if they are in a tiger bag (which is yellow with black stripes). You can buy these online.

If you need to dispose of incontinence waste, you can request an incontinence waste collection.

How to request a collection
To request a clinical waste collection, you will need to contact them so they can review your application. You can contact them online or call them on 01245 615800.

If they accept your request, Medisort will then contact you arrange details, such as how often they will make a collection.

Queries about existing collections
If you already receive a collection from Medisort and have a query or further request, you can contact them directly on 01903 719646.