Author: multicare

The importance of Changing Places

Over a quarter of a million severely disabled people in the UK, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, don’t have access to public toilet facilities that meet their needs. As a result, these people can’t participate in the day-to-day activities that so many of us take for granted.

Standard accessible (’disabled’) toilets don’t provide changing benches or hoists, and most are too small to accommodate more than one person.

Without Changing Places toilets, severely disabled persons are put at risk. Families or carers are forced to change them on toilet floors, in the back of their car, or a number of other places that are equally unhygienic and undignified. This puts the individual and the person administering the care at risk.

Great news for Hospitals!

The Department for Health and Social Care has announced £2 million in funding to install over 100 Changing Places toilets in NHS hospitals.

Minister for Care Caroline Dinenage, said: “It is utterly shocking how few Changing Places toilets there are currently in NHS hospitals and other public spaces. People with disabilities and their carers rightly expect to find suitable facilities in a hospital of all places. A quarter of a million disabled people need Changing Places and this investment will mean many more of them can access a toilet safely and comfortably. Whilst this is something most of us take for granted, access to spaces like these make a big difference to the lives of disabled people and their carers.”

Planning a Changing Places? – Contact us today

Contact us today for further information on 0800 298 6000 or email [email protected]

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Moving and handling activities

Moving and handling plans are implemented to reduce the risk of injury to staff and patients using patient handling equipment.

Moving and handling activities are a key part of carers everyday routine within the health and social care industry. Their duties can range from using moving equipment, assisting residents in moving, bathing and dressing, plus much more.

If moving and handling tasks aren’t carried out correctly, there is a danger of serious injury to carers and patients. Any care provider or organisation that uses patient handling equipment will need to introduce safety procedures and risk assessments to avoid any accidents and injuries.

It is important that an appropriate system of work is followed when using the equipment that is provided. Avoid manual handling tasks which could result in an injury and assess risks that cannot be avoided. Enforcing safety measures will help to reduce the risk, where reasonably practicable.

5 points to consider when writing a moving and handling plan:

• Competency: Ensure that the carer(s) conducting the task have been suitably trained to do so.
• Plan ahead: Identify what is needed to reduce the risk for all moving and handling tasks. This includes techniques, equipment, accessories and number of carers needed.
• Risk assessments: Ensure there is a current risk assessment for the procedure you are undertaking. The risk assessment should include; techniques to be used, equipment type/size, the number of carers needed and any other relevant information. The risk assessment should be reviewed constantly, especially when the patient’s needs change.
• Service of equipment: Ensure that any equipment you are using is checked daily and has had a LOLER inspection within the last 6 months with documentation. The date of the next service should be clearly marked on the equipment.
• Cooperation and communication: When moving a patient, constantly cooperate and communicate with both the patient and the carer assisting. Cooperation helps to ensure that you and the assisting carer know what you are doing. Communicating the task helps to reassure the patient that they are in safe hands.

Importance of training

Employers need to make sure that staff receive adequate training and information on people moving and handling. Practical training has an important role to play in ensuring that staff have the skills and confidence to hoist people safely. In addition to practicing with the equipment selection and use, staff need to understand the principles of hoisting, the potential risks, how to use the specific equipment they have in their workplace and how to implement individual handling plans.

Contact us today

For further information contact us today on 0800 298 6000 or email [email protected]

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Modern ceiling hoists for disabled persons

Today’s modern ceiling hoists offer far more than just a lift mounted on a track. There are many innovative features bringing massive benefits to both patients and carer staff alike.

In this Blog we will cover just 3 features that help save time and improve safety.

1. Constant Charge

This saves carers time – as they don’t have to return the hoist to a specific charge point after each use, it is one less thing to remember, one less thing to do, which gives them more time to care for patients. It also improves safety as the hoist is always fully charged and ready to use.

2. Anti Twist and Anti Rewind Device

Anti Twist – This is a great device that stops the strap from being raised if it is twisted. If the strap is lifted whilst twisted, it could jam resulting in the strap having to be cut to release the user. This feature removes the risk of this happening improving safety.

Anti Rewind – In older hoists, there was a danger that if the user continued to operate the hoist after the lifting strap was fully unwound, it could rewind the strap the wrong way on the hoist. This means that when the up button is pressed the hoist goes down, and when the down button is pressed the hoist goes up! Not only is this dangerous, but could damage the lift tape of the hoist.

3. Twin Speed Lifting

Carer’s time is precious, therefore the GH3 has two speeds for lifting. When lifting a patient it lifts at a reduced rate, making for a more comfortable lift with a soft start and stop. However when there is no patient in the hoist, the GH3 lifts three times as fast, enabling the carers to move the hoist out of the way, and focus on the patient care.

Contact us today

For further information don’t hesitate to call us on 0800 298 6000 or email [email protected]

The importance of Changing Places

Over a quarter of a million severely disabled people in the UK, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, don’t have access to public toilet facilities that meet their needs. As a result, these people can’t participate in the day-to-day activities that so many of us take for granted.

Standard accessible (’disabled’) toilets don’t provide changing benches or hoists, and most are too small to accommodate more than one person.

Without Changing Places toilets, severely disabled persons are put at risk. Families or carers are forced to change them on toilet floors, in the back of their car, or a number of other places that are equally unhygienic and undignified. This puts the individual and the person administering the care at risk.

Don’t miss out on opportunities

Some amazing figures released by VisitEngland showed that 83% of disabled people made a conscious decision not to visit an unwelcoming or inaccessible organisation — particularly those with no suitable, clean toilet facilities.

Zoos and wildlife parks can capitalise on revenue by unlocking a new customer base. Changing places facilities provide opportunities for the disabled persons in our society to get out and about, and the revenue generated for organisations that invest in these facilities is significant.

You can also tell people via social media or PR about the great features and accessibility you offer to boost your ‘disability friendly’ reputation!!

Cash in on the purple pound

According to Government research the money that households with a disabled person spend is estimated to be worth £212 billion.

This figure is known as the ‘purple pound’ and relates to all the disabled people in the UK.

Whilst many of these people can use a standard accessible (’disabled’) toilet, there’s still a huge number of profoundly disabled people whose families have to carefully plan any day out. This is because so few organisations and attractions cater for their needs. Interestingly one of the main reasons that many disabled people don’t visit certain destinations is the lack of suitable toilet provisions. A Changing Places toilet offers much more than a regular accessible toilet and will open your business up to many more customers.

Planning a Changing Places toilet? – Contact us today

Any questions don’t hesitate to call us on 0800 298 6000 or drop us a line to [email protected]

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