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Leicester Tigers rugby winger Scott Hamilton was on hand recently to see the installation of the final electric bed into the wards of Leicester General Hospital, marking the end of the second phase of a £10 million contract for the supply of hospital equipment and furniture which includes over 1700 electric beds.
The process of replacing all traditional hospital beds & mattresses, patient trolleys, examination couches, bedside chairs and children’s cots across University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust with advanced state-of-the-art equipment has been completed a year ahead of schedule.
The Leicester Hospitals project to replace all of this equipment was started in 2005, using Hill-Rom, the world’s leading supplier of advanced hospital equipment, technology and solutions for the patient environment.
The Hill Rom electric beds and mattresses are designed to be simple and easy to operate, enabling improved comfort and independence for patients and reducing the risks for staff associated with manual handling. Specialist mattresses are supplied to provide relief as appropriate to diminish the possibility of pressure ulcers and bed ulcers.
To ensure ongoing high performance, the equipment will be maintained and serviced regularly by Medstrom as part of a Total Bed Management (TBM) programme.
Of the project, Ernie Thompson Equipment & Contracts Manager of Leicester’s Hospitals, said “We are pleased at the speed in which we have been able to fully equip the hospitals with the electric beds and where they have already been installed on the wards, patients and staff have given us positive feedback and praise. With Medstrom being responsible for maintaining the equipment I am confident that these new beds (as above) will help us to improve patient care in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland as part of the Strategic Planning for the future”
Scott Hamilton, former New Zealand All Blacks and current Leicester Tigers rugby star joined staff at the General Hospital in celebrating the delivery and installation of the final electric bed.
Scott said “As rugby players, we understand the importance of a comfortable bed in recuperation. I am really impressed with the comfort of these beds and how easy they are to operate. I am sure the patients and staff at the Leicester hospitals will appreciate them”.
