Don't Buy Beds That are Difficult to Clean:
Many fold away beds use mesh bases in their design. Mesh bases reduce manufacturing costs but introduce a significant infection control concern. Cleaning them is almost impossible and is extremely time consuming. They also attach to the frame with springs that cannot be properly cleaned and are susceptible to rust if not dried.
Mesh-based designs are more suited to use in the home environment and should be avoided in the hospital setting.
Tip - Make certain that the bed base is robust and designed for easy cleaning.
Don't Buy Beds That Will Fall Apart Quickly:
Sounds obvious, right? However, it's amazing how many hospitals buy fold away beds that are not designed for hospital use.
These beds are likely to be moved around, set-up and cleaned on a daily basis for years to come. The reality is that domestic-style beds will not cope with that demand. They are not designed for high-traffic hospital activity and will fail quickly.
Tip - Make sure that the beds are specifically designed and certified for hospital use.
Don't Buy Beds That Are Difficult to Put Up and Down:
There's a high likelihood that these beds will be put up and down by the overnight visitor. If the beds are difficult or dangerous to use, you can be sure that there will be complaints. Visitors will get frustrated when they can't work out how to set them up and there will be incident reports if people are injured trying to use them.
As an example, many folding beds are spring loaded. This results in difficulty and confusion and the inevitable unwanted surprise when it expands without control.
The video below demonstrates a "difficult-to-use" bed.
Tip - Choose beds that are user friendly and have a controlled opening/closing mechanism.
Don't Buy Beds That Take Up Valuable Storage Space:
When stored, fold-away beds should take up very little storage space. They do not need to look like the image below with a squashed mattress, a tilted frame and a large storage footprint. These designs can make the storage area look untidy.
Tip - Choose beds that fold into a small footprint with upright stability.
Don't Buy Beds That Are Difficult to Move:
These beds will need to be transported throughout the ward, from the storage area to the patients' beds, and will also require movement for cleaning or potentially between different wards.
Beds equipped with small wheels can be challenging to manoeuvre and may become unstable, increasing the risk of tipping over. This makes safe handling difficult and can lead to collisions.
Additionally, beds with small wheels typically lack brakes, which means they cannot be securely locked in place while stored.
Tip - Choose beds with large wheels and brakes for ease of movement and storage
