Imagine yourself as a resident of a care home. Getting admitted to a care home itself can be very upsetting and also thoughts about losing independence. The last thing you want to do is, putting up the side rails on the first day of admission as a surprise when they were used to lying down in a normal bed trhoughout theier life. You, as a resident, will be having the following questions to ask your professionals? Children and adults with atypical anatomy using inappropriate equipment. Young patients and adults with smaller body anatomy should be using beds or cots compliant with BS EN 50637:2017, which is based on the international standard for medical beds. For use with any bed frame or divan, this strong steel frame clamps between the bed and the floor, giving you a very sturdy support. Lower yourself onto and raise yourself out of your bed with this bed frame that increases safety in your bedroom and can be stored flat when its not in use.

When something goes wrong in health and social care, the people affected and staff often say, "I don’t want this to happen to anyone else." These 'Learning from safety incidents' resources are designed to do just that. Each one briefly describes a critical issue - what happened, what CQC and the provider have done about it, and the steps you can take to avoid it happening in your service.Review the medical device management system (inventory/database) for your organisation or third-party provider for devices within your organisation, including those which have been provided to a community setting (for example, the patient’s own home). Keep this system up to date.

Understanding the needs of the resident and finding the best solution with them is the correct intervention when using the bed rails. Bed rails can be highly useful for individuals who benefits from it, we shouldn’t put off the decision just because “we want to claim a zero bed rail policy’. Bed rails guidance for care homes Update your organisation’s policies and procedures on procurement, provision, prescribing, servicing and maintenance of these devices in line with the MHRA’s updated guidance on the management and safe use of bed rails.Bed rails, also known as side rails or cot sides, are widely used to reduce the risk of falls. Although not suitable for everyone, they can be very effective when used with the right bed, in the right way, for the right person. When bed rails are used during the course of a work activity, such as in a care home or hospital, the employer or self-employed person providing them must ensure that they are safe The MHRA has updated the guidance on the management and safe use of bed rails to include learnings from incidents reported to us. The MHRA met with relevant organisations and stakeholders to ensure that the updated guidance is widely supported. The updates include:

through the gap between the lower bed rail bar and the mattress, allowing for compression of the mattress at its edge? 120 mm max Implement systems to update risk assessments where the equipment or the patient’s clinical condition has changed (for example, reduction/improvement in weight or mobility), and also at regular intervals. There followed four incidents where the man became trapped in a bed rail, or attempted to climb over it. Within four weeks of being discharged, he fell out of bed and re-fractured his hip. He died in hospital. Does the manufacturer/supplier provide any information on special considerations or contra-indications?Residents can become trapped between the end of the bed rail and the headboard or footboard if the rails are not secured in a safe position. Sometimes as professionals, we ‘habitutalise’ things in a clinical way and forget the people behind it. Everyone deserves to have their voice heard despite physical or mental limitations. If not, we still have a duty to think from the perspective of the resident and make the right decision for them. I am sure you are already doing such an excellent job! Keep doing the excellent work. Children and adults with atypical anatomy should be using beds or cots compliant with BS EN 50637:2017 unless there is a clinical reason for using a non-compliant bed, which should be documented, including any steps which need to be taken to reduce risk. Older beds, which might previously have been intended for children, may not comply with the requirements set out in this standard, as it was introduced in 2017, and therefore there may be a higher risk of entrapment with these beds. Actions required a second offence resulting in people using this service being exposed to a significant risk of avoidable harm. Review all patients who are currently provided with bed rails or bed grab handles to ensure there is a documented up-to-date risk assessment. Complete risk assessments for patients where this has not already been done and for each patient who is provided with bed rails or bed grab handles.

Review patients who are children or adults with atypical anatomy as a priority. Ensure the equipment they have been provided with is compliant with BS EN 50637:2017 unless there is a reason for using a non-compliant bed. Record this on the risk assessment and put in place measures to reduce entrapment risks as far as possible. This was a breach of Regulation 12(1) and 12(2) as care and treatment were not provided in a safe way. The service was rated as inadequate against the question, ‘Is the service safe?’. This section with direct you to a number of bed side rails for providing safety in the bedroom. These bed support rails prevent fall risk when a person is left unattended in bedGet a good nights sleep, knowing that in the morning, you can wake up and get out of bed easily and independently with the help of the Parnell Bed Rail. However, accident data shows that bed rails sometimes don't prevent falls and can introduce other risks. Can you use ‘crash mats’? Please do not use crash mats for people who are dying or who does not move in bed instead use bed rails. Getting out for a walk can be a daunting prospect for your relative if their balance and strength isn’t quite what it used to be. Yet walking is a great way to keep fit and is something that can help with both of those issues. Continue reading The resident can become trapped between the bottom of the rail and the mattress if the gap beneath the rail is too large.