Published 25 September 2026
We only recommend products we think are worth it. Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through one we earn a commission from Amazon, at no extra cost to you, and as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes which products we pick or how we rank them. This is not medical advice. If you are unsure what you need, ask your GP or occupational therapist.
Short answer. If someone is coming home after a hip or knee operation, or after a fall, you need a small set of cheap tools before they arrive: a reacher, a sock aid, something to raise the toilet, and a way to get legs into bed. The essentials cost under £40. Before you buy anything, ask the ward occupational therapist what the NHS is sending home with them, because much of this list is handed out free.
Check what the NHS or council will give you first
Hospitals do not discharge people into thin air. If an occupational therapist has assessed the patient, the NHS or the council’s community equipment service will often deliver a raised toilet seat, a toilet frame, a perching stool or a bed lever free of charge, on loan. Ask the ward directly: what equipment is coming home with them, and when does it arrive? Buy only the gaps. The most common gap in practice is the small stuff: reachers, sock aids, sponges and non-slip socks, which many services no longer stock. Our guide to discharge planning covers who to chase and what to ask.
If the equipment is for a chronic condition or disability, most specialist retailers can sell it VAT-free. Amazon usually cannot apply the relief at checkout. On cheap items the Amazon price often still wins; on dearer items check a specialist first. See our price comparison of Amazon against mobility shops.
Kit 1: the under £40 essentials
Five cheap tools that cover dressing, washing and picking things up. Four of them are below; prices move, so check the live listing.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (paid link)
The fifth item is a pair of non-slip grip socks for hard floors. That corner of Amazon is a swamp of identical imports with no standout brand, so we have no single pick: search non-slip grip socks on Amazon (paid link) and choose a multipack with a visible tread photo.
Skip this kit if the patient can already bend to their feet without pain and has no movement restrictions from the surgical team. Save the money.
Kit 2: under £100, add the bathroom
Everything in Kit 1, plus one of the toilet options below. Pick one, not both, and measure the toilet first. The reacher upgrade is optional and worth it for daily use.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (paid link)
A word on weight limits: neither the raised seat nor the frame above publishes a maximum user weight on its Amazon listing. That is a mark against them. If the user is above roughly 15 stone, message the seller for the figure in writing before ordering, or buy from a specialist that states it. Our raised toilet seat guide and toilet frame guide list options with published limits.
Skip the raised seat if the toilet has a D-shaped or square designer pan; clamp-on seats fit standard pans. A frame that stands on its own feet is the safer bet for heavier users, and the NHS version is free if you can wait for the assessment.
Kit 3: under £200, add the bedroom and meals
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (paid link)
Add a bed lever or transfer handle if getting out of bed is the sticking point. We keep our picks and the safety warnings in one place: read our leg lifters and bed levers guide and our bed rails guide before buying, because clamp-on rails are not suitable for people who are confused or who try to climb over them, and mattress thickness matters.
Skip the overbed table if the recovery is expected to be two weeks or less. A sturdy tray and a side table do the job. It is also a household product on wheels, not a support: it fails anyone who will lean on it to stand.
How to choose
- Buy before discharge day, not after. Next-day delivery fails exactly when you need it.
- Ask the ward occupational therapist what is being supplied free, and buy only the gaps.
- Match heights to the person: a 4 inch toilet raise suits most people with hip restrictions, but taller users may need a frame set higher.
- One good reacher beats two cheap ones. If the budget allows one upgrade, upgrade the reacher.
- Anything load-bearing needs a published weight limit. No figure, no sale.
Who each pick fails
The cheap sock aid is flexible plastic. It fails people with very swollen feet or compression stockings; for stockings, a rigid stocking aid is the right tool, and our sock aid guide covers those. The 91 cm grabber is light and fine for curtains and post, but its plastic jaw will not lift a full kettle; the Helping Hand Classic Pro in Kit 2 is the sturdier tool, and our handy grabbers guide compares more. The leg lifter strap needs some grip strength; the rigid NRS wand in Kit 3 is easier with weak hands.
Amazon or a specialist?
For this list, Amazon wins on speed and usually on price for the small items. Specialists win when VAT relief applies to bigger items, when you need a published weight limit, and when you want returns handled by someone who understands the product. If the person qualifies for VAT relief and the item costs more than about £40, price the specialist first. Full workings in our Amazon vs specialist price check and our list of retailers we checked for VAT relief.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment does the NHS give you free after a hip replacement?
It varies by trust. Commonly a raised toilet seat, a toilet frame, a perching stool and sometimes a trolley, on loan from the community equipment service, after an occupational therapy assessment. Ask the ward before you buy anything.
What should I buy before someone comes out of hospital?
The small items the NHS rarely supplies: a reacher, a sock aid, a long-handled sponge, non-slip socks and a leg lifter strap. Under £40 covers all five.
Do I need a raised toilet seat after a knee replacement?
Often yes for the first weeks, if getting up from low seats is painful. Knee patients usually keep fewer movement restrictions than hip patients. Follow the advice your surgical team gives you; it overrides anything on this page.
Can I get VAT off this equipment?
Only if the person it is for has a chronic illness or disability and the item qualifies. Specialist retailers handle the declaration at checkout. Amazon generally cannot, though some Amazon-sold items offer a refund route after purchase. See our VAT relief guide.
How long do you need a raised toilet seat after hip surgery?
Typically until your surgical team lifts your movement restrictions, which is commonly somewhere around 6 to 12 weeks. It depends on the operation and the surgeon’s protocol, so ask them, not us.
Is an overbed table worth it?
For recoveries longer than a few weeks, or for anyone who eats in a chair most days, yes. For a fortnight of convalescence, no.
Something on this page looks wrong to you?
Tell us and we will correct it. Email hello@reviewmobility.co.uk.
Published 25 September 2026