Choosing Furniture for Hospital Wards

Furniture for hospital wards needs to be practical, dependable and comfortable for patients. Choose products suitable for the clinical environment and the intended use, rather than assuming that ordinary household or office furniture will meet a ward’s needs.

Which items are needed?

A ward furniture package may include:

• Beds.
• Bedside cabinets.
• Wardrobes or cupboards for clothing.
• Chairs and armchairs.
• Small tables.
• Shelves.

Bed selection should reflect the patients’ condition and the care they are likely to need. A straightforward bed without powered adjustment may suit some patients who are independently mobile and need little assistance. Patients with restricted mobility may need a profiling bed with adjustable sections and an electric or pneumatic mechanism, depending on the model. Accessories can include IV poles, side rails and bottle holders.

Side rails need an individual assessment rather than being fitted automatically. MHRA guidance on safe bed-rail use explains the risks of falls and entrapment and the importance of compatible beds, mattresses and rails. Check the complete combination and review it when the patient’s needs or equipment change.

Bedside cabinets provide storage for patients’ personal belongings, food and toiletries, subject to the ward’s storage and hygiene arrangements. They may have a conventional single-user design or separate compartments for two patients. For people with limited mobility, consider whether handles, drawers and storage spaces can actually be reached and operated independently.

Clothing cupboards often have lockable compartments so each patient can use their allocated space. Additional wall-mounted storage boxes may also be lockable. Small tables and chairs improve comfort where space permits. Some wards rely on the bedside cabinet’s top as a meal surface and allow patients to sit on the bed, but these arrangements must suit the person’s mobility, posture and ability to eat safely. A suitable chair or overbed table may be needed instead.

What requirements should furniture meet?

Check the registration, conformity and other product documentation required for the intended use in the country concerned. A registration certificate alone does not demonstrate that an item meets every applicable standard or is suitable for every patient.

When comparing ward furniture, look for products that:

• Tolerate the specified cleaning and disinfection process, including any approved chemical products or UV exposure.
• Have surfaces that are easy to keep clean during use.
• Are practical and durable.
• Have manageable maintenance needs and do not require frequent unscheduled repairs.
• Have adequate strength within the manufacturer’s stated load limits.
• Provide the functions required by the patients they will serve.

Furniture does not remain clean simply because of its material, and no product should be assumed to resist every disinfectant or UV process. CDC guidance on environmental cleaning highlights manufacturer instructions and material compatibility. Use the specified products and methods, with routine cleaning and inspections appropriate to the ward.

Common construction materials include stainless-steel or powder-coated steel frames, with polymer, laminated chipboard or MDF panels. Hospital beds have more complex designs, so materials vary with the model. Some have radiolucent plastic sections to support particular imaging procedures; check the actual bed specifications rather than assuming that all plastic panels allow suitable X-ray imaging.

Load ratings also require careful reading. The Arjo Enterprise 5000X specifications, for example, distinguish maximum patient weight from safe working load. Apply the chosen product’s own limits, including the mattress and accessories where specified, rather than treating those two ratings as interchangeable.

Powered beds and treatment chairs may be used in wards where their functions suit the clinical work. Patients needing more intensive care may also require dedicated trolleys for a patient monitor and other equipment. These can occupy the space normally used by a bedside cabinet and may have polymer components, a metal base and storage drawers. Their placement should preserve access for care and keep equipment within its intended use.

Original source: Zaplata — Choosing furniture for hospital wards.