Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has selected Sidhil's Independence Innov8 Low beds as part of a falls prevention strategy.
The beds will be used particularly for elderly and confused patients, where the low deck height has been identified as making a real contribution to increased safety.
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust provides a range of medical services to approximately 420,000 people living across south west London and north east Surrey. The trust also provides specialist services in the fields of renal and neonatal intensive care to a wider area, covering parts of Sussex and Hampshire.
Sidhil's Innov8 Low bed was first specified by the trust two years ago, and a number of the beds are already in use, both for specialist services and also operating as standard ward beds. The latest order is for 173 in total.
"In use, the bed profiles well - the four section cantilever moves smoothly under the patient with no bunching, providing obvious tissue viability benefits," said Pauline Beldon, tissue viability nurse consultant for the trust. "Our speech and language therapists find the beds particularly useful, providing a good easy upright positioning for stroke and Parkinson’s patients, achieving a safe eating position and open airways. The handsets are also proving easy and intuitive in use for patients, carers and relatives."
Alongside the Innov8 Low beds, the trust has also purchased a range of surfaces from Sidhil. These include the Trio II three-cell alternating dynamic therapy mattress for high/very high risk applications, used as a treatment mattress; and the SoloXtra two-cell alternating dynamic therapy overlay with a separate visco foam underlay, designed for medium to high risk applications, which is used in preventative treatment. The trust has also selected Sidhil's Acclaim VE static mattress, a visco-elastic (memory) foam surface which features a foam sidewall construction engineered to provide added stability and strength in use, used for comfort and profiling applications.