January 8 2010
Lymington New Forest Hospital Takes the Pressure off for its Patients
Lymington New Forest Hospital has given its patients ‘diamonds’ this Christmas, with 20 new pressure-reliving mattresses that will not only improve physiotherapy, but also reduce bed sores and the chances of bed falls.
The diamond mattresses, from Squirrel Medical – one of two suppliers providing to the hospital, will make physiotherapy sessions far easier; the firmness in the mattress allows patients to be treated more effectively, as the physiotherapists can move the patient around easier and provide patients with more support. The new mattresses also have the same feel of a high quality foam mattress, so patients will find the experience far more comfortable.
As well as all this, the mattresses will help to reduce the chances of bed falls as they fit in the bed frame even better than traditional deep-cell mattresses. This also helps to reduce the chances of entrapment and bed falls. The modern design of these mattresses prevent the ‘pinching effect’ underneath patients which can causes pressure ulcers to those in a seated position for long periods of time. Also, as the mattresses are only five inches high, patients are able to get in and out of bed more easily and those with mobility problems will be able to move more freely, especially from a lying to sitting position.
Low profile height facilitates self transfer, self positioning and the stable base enables more effective physiotherapy. The low depth ensures legal bed rail clearance of 22cm or greater. Pictured on Volker 3080 nursing bed.
Toni Scammell, Modern Matron for Lymington New Forest Hospital is delighted about the new delivery: “Pressure ulcers are a huge discomfort for patients, so anything we can do to avoid or relieve this we do. The added benefits on top of this made them the obvious choice. These mattresses are a worthwhile investment to make sure patients get the care they deserve.”
The diamond mattresses were evaluated as the best from a therapy and rehabilitation perspective. Lyn adds: “The trial gave us an opportunity to compare different products from various companies, we included both therapy and nursing staff in the trial and the decision-making process for choosing what they felt was the most suitable mattresses for our patients.”
