‘Intelligent’ way to end bedsores for patients across East Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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‘Intelligent’ way to end bedsores for patients across East Lancashire
3:30pm Friday 22nd June 2012 in Health
By Catherine Pye, Health reporter
COMFORT ZONE One of the new mattresses that will help patients to change their position to help eradicate bedsores
INTELLIGENT foam mattresses are being rolled out in hospitals across East Lancashire to prevent bed sores.
East Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust (ELHT) is in the process of replacing 790 of 950 mattresses trust-wide with high-tech equipment called AtmosAir™.
The new mattresses incorporate Self Adjusting Technology air cells that allows the material to mould around the patient, minimising the risks of pressure ulcer development by eliminating high peak pressure areas.
Pressure sores develop when compression of the skin in one area of the body cuts off the blood supply, usually when someone sits or lies in one position for too long.
Liz White, tissue viability nurse at ELHT, said: “The introduction of these new mattresses will ensure that every patient will have access to a superior quality mattress immediately upon admission, providing a comfortable stay and a clinically efficient method of preventing pressure ulcers.
“The pressure relieving mattresses will ensure that patients can be nursed on the appropriate support surface immediately.
“Thus ensuring patient safety and comfort and reducing the risk of pressure ulcer development. The most important factor in preventing pressure sores is encouraging people to change their position regularly throughout the day.”
It is hoped that the investment will eradicate unnecessary equipment handling activities, to give nursing staff more time to care for patients.
Liz added: “Pressure ulcers can have an emotional, mental, physical, and social effects on the quality of life of patients.”
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