New dynamic equipment to improve patient care as Manual Handling Team move into new state-of-the-art training facilities
Staff coming to the aid of vulnerable patients who have fallen will have a safer way of supporting them.
Falls are the most commonly reported incident in the NHS. Between 30 – 50% of them result in minor injuries, while 10% lead to serious harm, such as spinal fractures or head injuries, with a high risk of life-changing injury or even death.
Now Swansea Bay has invested in new equipment featuring air-filled lifting cushions which inflate to elevate the patient from the floor to bed height, enabling them to be transferred safely.
They are being made available across all Swansea Bay hospitals.
Staff responding to falls are trained in safe systems by the health board’s Manual Handling Team for hosting immobile and fallen injured patients off the floor. But despite their expertise, concerns were still being raised that lifting systems were outdated, complex and high risk.
Strategic Manual Handling Adviser Martin Thomas said: “It is important patients remain motionless particularly if they have suffered a suspected spinal injury, as they are at great risk from a serious life-changing injury.
“Until now, if a patient has fallen, staff would use a system of straps and hosts which was quite complicated.
“People might be tempted to make short cuts with a manual lift, but if they get it wrong it could harm the patient further.
“This new equipment is much easier to use, and makes it far less likely a patient would be further harmed while being lifted off the floor.”
The lifting cushions are easily transported in wheeled flight cases, with a rechargeable battery powered pump allowing for rapid deployment in a wide range of areas including car parks.
They are already used in other Welsh health boards, and new ones are being distributed to Singleton, Morriston, Neath Port Talbot, Gorseinon, Cefn Coed, and Tonna hospitals.
Martin added: “This equipment helps to reduce further injury to fallen and injured patients by eliminating the risk of accidental dropping or incorrect use of complex equipment.
“We are now seeking people to take key ownership of the devices on each hospital site.”
The equipment’s arrival comes shortly after the Manual Handling Team moved to new state-of-the-art training facilities on Ward 8 in Singleton. For the first time the team has all the equipment it needs in a single place. It’s a professional facility, whereas before it used outdated facilities at Phillips Parade in Swansea city centre.
The new site boasts two large training rooms, enabling the team to train more staff more efficiently.
Martin added: “It is a fantastic facility. It wasn’t quite big enough previously but they have knocked down walls for us to accommodate more people.
“We have equipment to mock-up clinical situations, as close to real as possible. The investment has been phenomenal, and we now enjoy plenty of natural daylight.
“As we are on the main site, so if any patients need advice we are just a short distance away.”
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