MOBILITY aid services helping people stay independent are set to close at a number of locations in Hampshire which has sparked fears it could “overwhelm” the remaining centres.

The British Red Cross mobility aids service provides free, short-term loans of wheelchairs, crutches, bath boards, walking frames and other aids.

The services will no longer be operating at 11 centres in the county, including Ringwood, which is based at Ringwood Medical Centre and will close on Friday, as well as Hythe, Totton and Romsey.

The other services will be closing between September and December.

Geoff Cheshire, for the Red Cross, said: “We are always looking at ways to improve our service and make best use of our resources. We currently lend mobility aids from 20 locations in Hampshire; some are only three miles apart. This is a very inefficient and expensive way to operate. We cannot justify this expense to either our donors, our service users in other parts of the country or other local people who need our help.

“We have therefore given notice to leave 10 NHS properties and close the service at one Red Cross centre in Hampshire. This will allow us to continue providing vital mobility aids from nine Red Cross buildings across the county.

"The public can still access the service from nine locations including the Redcross Portakabin in Fordingbridge and the British Red Cross in Lymington

Mr Cheshire says even with the nine service locations, Hampshire will have “more centres than any other county in the UK”.

And he said despite funding from Clinical Commissioning groups supporting services located at NHS properties, “the true costs of running the service are far higher”.

“Despite our best efforts and those of our partners in the NHS, we have been unable to agree how these costs should be met. As as charity we cannot remain in properties where there is a potential cost liability.”

Mr Cheshire says the Red Cross “continually review” the service and look to improve and make efficiencies.

He said it would be exploring other options such as online ordering, home deliveries and mobile services.

On average, people will need to travel an additional six to eight miles to access the service.

Michael Shucksmith, who volunteers in Fordingbridge, has raised concerns over the impact on the remaining centres.

He said: “It just means our services are much reduced and as a consequence we might be overwhelmed here.

“It is happening already. We had people queuing which has never happened before.”