The Foundation Trust has completed a £1.5 million project to replace all hydraulic beds and foam mattresses, giving patients greater control of their bed position and making their stay in hospital more comfortable.

The replacement programme, which began in April 2009, has been completed ahead of schedule and ensures the Trust has achieved compliance with the Health and Safety Executive, which states that all acute Trusts must upgrade their bed stock by 2011. This is to ensure staff and patient safety is not compromised when undertaking patient handling tasks.

The investment provides a number of key benefits to patients and ensures both patient and staff safety continues to remain a priority at the Trust. Audrey Redshaw from the Clinical Governance and Risk Management Team, commented: “Patients previously needing assistance to move in the bed now have more control to do it themselves.

“We have already had positive feedback from patients about the new equipment. Patients have commented how easy the beds are to use and they are pleased to be able to have more freedom to adjust their own position.”

In addition, all static mattresses within the Trust have been reviewed, with old ones being replaced, ensuring all mattresses are less than two years old.