________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Over the past 15 years , Medstrom has established a strong reputation for supplying a range of innovative products in the specialist beds and surfaces sector . Formed in 2010 when a team bought out Hillrom ’ s bed management contracts , it has capitalized on sustained growth ever since and today stands as a significant , innovative independent UK manufacturer of hospital beds . Medstrom is the largest provider of ‘ total bed management ’ services to the NHS , with over 30 percent of the UK ’ s acute care beds and mattresses fleet under its management . Rachel Apsey , Group CEO , begins with some key new product developments within the company : “ We ’ re manufacturing medicalsurgical beds now ,” she announces . “ We have an install base of over 20,000 units in the marketplace . Our Solo + bed has been shown to significantly reduce patient falls in the NHS . That was one of our key drivers in the design of this bed , to make sure a patient can get their feet to the floor , as a lot of beds in the marketplace simply don ’ t go low enough . I have a background in nursing and it ’ s something I have seen a lot . It can create issues when a patient starts to mobilize . National statistics show that 700 patients fall from the bedside every day in the NHS .
Designed with care
“ One of our missions with that bed was to offer a customizable height , optimizing early mobilization for all , but also to ensure it reaches a high enough height to protect nurses ’ backs while administering in-bed care . We have achieved the only bed on the market with this unrivalled height range and the brilliant thing is that we are seeing significant improvements to clinical outcomes , which is what it is all about .
Our Solo + bed has been shown to significantly reduce patient falls in the NHS
“ A further recent development is our expansion into the mental health sector ,” she continues . “ Since Covid there has been a lot more awareness , but also greater challenges as mental health bed numbers are the only sector that is growing in terms of beds within the NHS . One of the challenges is that as patients become more acutely unwell ; they need a more typical medical-surgical bed like you would see in a hospital . These beds come with cables and parts that can be removed and other features that pose risks to mental health patients . Working with four or five mental health customers who are immersed in that environment daily , we came up with a design which we presented to the NHS . The Medstrom Solo MH is a bed that offers a range of articulation for clinical positioning whilst also minimizing associated ligature risks . This includes concealing exposed cables , use of robust , fixed materials and simulating a ‘ block bed ’ aesthetic . It ’ s the most ligature-reduced bed on the market .
“ The recent Budget highlighted the need for mental health equipment in accident and emergencies . Because of a lack of suitable equipment , mental health patients in accident and emergency departments sometimes require a nurse to always watch over them . We have a product that has been highlighted as a key need in the whole NHS by Rachel Reeves .
“ The National Patient Safety Agency ( NPSA ),” Rachel continues , “ also highlighted a key challenge in the NHS . They raised a patient safety alert regarding pediatric , and lower weight , frail elderly patients , who are at risk of being trapped by conventional hospital beds due to their atypical anatomy . In response we have developed the Medstrom Solo Luxe , the only bed that is suitable for
120