A New Approach to Paediatric Hospital Beds: The Talent Bed Frame
Narrowing Down the Inconsistencies in NHS Children's Wards' Medical Equipment Compliance
In an effort to address the real-world demands of hospital operations and ease the burden on healthcare providers, a new paediatric hospital bed, known as the Talent Bed Frame, has been developed. This innovative product, designed with input from NHS Trusts, clinicians, and estates teams, aims to proactively support the NHS.
The Talent Bed Frame's design is grounded in compliance with EN 50637:2017, a European safety standard introduced in 2017 to address the risks posed to children and smaller adults in hospital settings. However, the implementation of this standard has been limited due to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current Status of EN 50637:2017 Implementation in Children's Wards Across NHS Trusts
While the implementation of EN 50637:2017 varies across NHS Trusts, there is a trend towards prioritizing compliance, particularly in MRI environments. Larger teaching hospitals and specialist paediatric centres with MRI facilities typically demonstrate more advanced implementation.
Trusts incorporating EN 50637 compliance into their procurement policies prioritise equipment that meets these standards, especially for paediatric wards where safety concerns are higher. Some Trusts also conduct regular assessments, training, and audits to ensure ongoing compliance among staff working in MRI environments.
Common challenges include limited availability of paediatric-specific devices fully compliant with EN 50637, budget constraints, and logistical complexities of upgrading existing equipment.
Alternatives for Paediatric-Specific Medical Equipment to Ensure Compliance and Patient Safety
In the absence of fully compliant devices, NHS Trusts often use standard medical equipment together with rigorous safety protocols, including removal from the immediate MRI room or specific shielding procedures. Some Trusts collaborate with manufacturers for bespoke adaptations of adult devices for paediatric use, ensuring enhanced safety features and compliance.
The use of equipment made from non-magnetic or low ferromagnetic materials also mitigates risks in the MRI environment. Trusts employ detailed risk assessments for any device used near MRI scanners, with clear mitigation strategies outlined for equipment without full EN 50637 certification.
The Talent Bed Frame: A Solution for Hospital Operations and Patient Safety
The Talent Bed Frame offers several features that set it apart. Its controls have a fully integrated control panel with no exposed wires, eliminating ligature risks. The bed frame also features a two-stage side rail lowering mechanism that requires two separate actions to lower the rail, reducing fall risks.
Adjustments can be made in one touch, freeing time for clinical care, especially when managing large caseloads with limited staff. The controls are secured via key code, making adjustments safe, secure, and fast.
The Talent Bed Frame is certified safe for patients of all sizes, providing a solution for the many children and smaller adults who are exposed to entrapment, ligature, and fall risks with standard hospital beds.
The Impact of Staffing Shortages on Patient Care
The NHS continues to face staffing shortages, with 69% of shifts reporting a lack of nursing staff to deliver safe patient care, a significant rise from 63% last year. The Talent Bed Frame's simplified maintenance and efficient design aim to alleviate some of the burden on hospital operations, allowing staff to focus on patient care.
Addressing the Need for Compliant Paediatric Hospital Beds
Many hospitals continue to use adult beds for paediatric patients, sometimes with improvised add-ons or locked handsets to reach the EN standard. The Talent Bed Frame offers a viable alternative, addressing the need for compliant paediatric hospital beds while considering the broader realities of hospital operations.
For specific information on your local NHS Trust’s compliance status or procurement policies, contacting the Trust’s medical physics or equipment management departments is recommended.
- incorporating EN 50637 compliance into paediatric ward equipment policies can significantly enhance patient safety, as demonstrated by the use of the Talent Bed Frame, which is designed with features to eliminate ligature risks and reduce fall risks.
- In the context of digital health and health-and-wellness, the Talent Bed Frame can contribute positively to patient care by providing a compliant and safe paediatric hospital bed, easing the burden on healthcare providers dealing with staffing shortages and offering innovative solutions to real-world hospital operation challenges.
