Half of the Whanganui District Health Board's wheelchairs are missing in action, prompting a plea for their return, "no questions asked".
Spokeswoman Sue Campion said patients' failure to return wheelchairs and crutches was an ongoing problem. Seven of the 15-strong wheelchair fleet are missing; each chair costs up to $1300 to replace.
Wanganui Hospital orderlies were struggling to find wheelchairs for patients needing to be moved around the hospital or to and from cars.
Health board facilities manager Grant Hood said some patients "borrow" the chairs after being discharged.
"While some people have the best intentions to return the wheelchair once they are back in their homes or rest homes, it doesn't always happen.
"And we also know some are taken for joy rides and abandoned around the hospital campus and beyond," he said.
Mr Hood urged anyone who has a health board wheelchair to return it immediately. The chairs are easily identifiable with WDHB on the back.
Mr Hood said people were welcome to drop wheelchairs off in the main entrance of the hospital with no questions asked.