In a report published today by the Royal College of Physicians, research has shown up to 600 patients are falling in hospitals each day due to lack of care by staff.
Whilst relatives are instructed to remove any obstacles around the bed or floor space, and make sure walking / stand aids are close at hand, 30% of falls could be reduced by nurses and doctors actually clearing clutter and reminding patients to call for nurses before trying to get up themselves.
Dr Shelagh Riordan, of the Royal College of Physicians said: “When a patient falls in hospital, particularly an older patient, it can cause anxiety and distress for them and their families, even if the fall does not result in serious injury. Patients and their families need to be falls aware.”
Harvest Healthcare being a leading manufacturer of quality healthcare equipment, can make sure hospitals and care homes are fully equipped to care. Whether you work in the care sector, or have a friend / relative being cared for, we have a range of products and solutions to help prevent such nasty falls.
The Vigilant Falls Reduction System has been specifically designed for use on the Woburn bed range, and other alternative bed systems, with the safety of the patient as a first priority. Compatible with most Nurse Call systems, the falls reduction handset emits a soft glow to allow buttons to be found and is fitted with a magnetic key to prevent patients tampering with the device.
Most importantly, should the patient take a tumble, or try to get up and move around without the aid of a nurse, an alarm will automatically activate within 2 seconds of the patient becoming absent from their bed or chair. The Underbed Light ties in nicely together with this system as the sensor illuminates the area around the bed to help prevent trips and falls, once movement has been detected as well as providing illumination for the carers when entering the room whilst dark.
Guidelines have been published to provide simple tips and tricks for families of those in care to help avoid roughly 200 preventable falls per day, but surely hospital staff should already be following guidelines, which poses the question, are staff doing enough to protect patients?
With a host of advanced features, the Vigilant Falls Reduction System could revolutionise the way you monitor patient movement.
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