Patient Hoist Regulations, Loler & Inservice Inspections

We have had quite a few enquiries regarding L.O.L.E.R recently; mainly customers are concerned about what is covered and what isn’t covered under L.O.L.ER regulations but more importantly how to ensure their home is following these regulations.

Before I start I'm sure one or two of you may be asking what is L.O.L.E.R?, this actually stands for the lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations 1998 R9 (3)(A), 9(3)(B) and relates to any form of lifting or handling equipment. In our case we deal a lot with equipment which are a staple part of everyday life in a nursing home, these are patient hoists, bath hoists, stand aids, slings and electric baths.

The biggest queries is that homes are unsure of whether it was OK to inspect hoists and slings without the need of an external company to do this, As you can imagine, we cant just give the OK without proper clarification so we felt it was necessary to get a clear understanding direct from the HSE, this would help us ensure that we could help our customers gain a better understanding of this.

We were able to ask one of the Field Operations Directorate at HSE ,Ms Christina Goddard, who was able give clear explanation of what is involved and noted one of the main misconceptions homes are having.

It seems that a lot of Homes are confusing a regular in-service inspection of equipment with a more thorough inspection known as a STE (Statutory Thorough Examination)

Statutory thorough examinations

These should normally be carried out by a person independent of the organisation and be carried out on a six monthly basis by independent of the person carrying out routine servicing of the equipment. This is to ensure that the person carrying out the STE can report defects and order equipment to be taken out of use without fear of retribution. However, it is not a legal requirement that the STE is carried out by an independent person.

If an STE is carried out by an employee of the company/establishment, or by an engineer who also services the equipment, then they must be able to demonstrate that the STE has been carried out as though the engineer is independent and that conflicts of interest have been dealt with. In reality this is very difficult to prove, and it is considered good practice for the STE to be carried out by an external company.

In service inspections

These are inspections that can be carried out by suitably trained persons in the company/establishment. This can be a suitably trained member of staff who would carry out the inspections, report defects and ensure records of the inspection are kept.

I hope this is able to put some minds at ease regarding L.O.L.E.R , however if you are in any doubt whether you are following correct procedures or you would like to take advantage of our very own L.O.L.E.R Inspection service please don’t hesitate to contact us on the details attached.

WendyLett System - Moving & Handling

Three Sheets for all occasions.

All too often care staff still work with laborious, out –dated methods during bed transfers of people with reduced function. The multifunctional Wendylett family has been developed to facilitate m

oving higer up the bed, turning and other small transfers in bed. Together the 3 wendylett sheets make an in situ, well thought-through system of slide and draw sheets which work in combination with each other and contribute to a simpler everyday life for both user and staff.

Superficially, wendylett is a just wonderful satin sheet. Examined more closely , you will soon discover that WendyLett is also an excellent transfer device

The Unique, deceptively simple concept lies in the weave and the weft of the fabrics structure. It is “slippery” in one direction, but not in the other. With the right material and the right combinations of sheets with different functions, it becomes possible to perform very easy transfers. Even large and heavy users can be positioned in bed with considerably less effort for staff, which provides for substantially improved ergonomics. Furthermore, the WendyLett slide and draw sheets are always in situ. They are products which make everyday life more pleasant for the use

r while recording the load and making work easier for staff.

You could say the WendyLett is revolutionary bedlinen!

Slide and drawsheets

The Wendylett family consists of three different Wendylett sheets. Wendylett base sheet is satin sliding sheet. The fabric allows sliding in direction, but not in the other, which makes it easier for the user to independently turn in bed. For the WendyLett sheet there are also two different drawsheets,

WendyLett2way and WendyLett4way. The difference between 2way and 4way is that while the 2way slides in 2 directions 4way slides in four. When combining one of these draw sheets with the WendyLett base sheet, turning or repositioning becomes light work for staff, regardless of which type of positioning the user has.

WendyLett2way

The right WendyLett for each situation

All WendyLett sheets can be used in home and nursing care as well as in hospitals and other acute environments. The system is suitable for both passive or partially-active users, who experience some difficulties in turning themselves in bed. A combination of WendyLett base sheet and WendyLett4way

can also contribute to the users rehabilitation, as the user is able to move themselves, by making micromoves and small positional change. To prevent the user from sliding down when sitting up in bed, it is important that the draw sheet is folded-in, about 10cm under the thighs before it is tucked into place under the mattress. Despite the simplicity and ease-of-use, the WendyLett system is remarkably functional during all Kinds of heavier bed transfers. Which draw sheet the staff should use is determined by a risk assessment including the user’s needs and abilities, as well as the carers ability and the environment.

A fabric that speaks

The colours and patterns of the fabric in the WendyLett slide and drawsheet are designed to indicate the function of the sheet and thereby also the needs of the use. The Wendyl

ett base sheet has, just like WendyLett2way, stripes which signal in which direction the sliding is facilitated. WendyLett4Way slides in multiple directions and, therefore3, the design is checked. This is unique. By the distinctly pattern, the staff can immediately see and understand the sheets function. The instruction is simply “embedded” in the linen. This provides for confidence in the work and saves time.

Simple Maintenance

The WendyLett sheets are just as easy to wash as are regular sheets and considerably easier to maintain, compared to other types of aids. They can handle 90 degree C/194 degrees F which fulfils strict hygiene requirements, and they can be included in the ordinary laundry loads.

For further information regarding teh WendyLett System Please visit www.bmsupplies.co.uk

large childrens nappies for sale

Feedback from a lot of our customers has been that buying incontinence products for larger children and young adults on the high street is a very difficult thing to do, the internet does offer a few alternative but these are few and far between.

Here at B&M Supplies we have taken the feedback given from our customers to increase our range of incontinence products to include a wider range of products for specialist care, Paediatric care and older children who suffer from incontinence.

Currently we supply a range of Libero products that have proved very popular with our customers thanks to their 7 step programme.

The 7 step programme allows for a full solution from birth to childhood and is able to cater for larger children by continuing to size 7 in either a diaper or a pull up depending on preference. (Most high street products will only cater size 4-5).

http://www.bmsupplies.co.uk/Incontinence-Products/Childrens-products-Pads-and-bedsheets

Surgical facemasks

Due to the media fuelled excitement of last year’s swine flu epidemic, it seemed that the whole world and his dog where looking for high quality face masks. In fact we sold out of our entire stock in 2 days!!
At the time we ordered more to cover the demand and as quickly as the rush started it stopped and left us with an over stock of these 3ply facemasks.

The good news for customers is we are now able to offer these at a lower price than normal.

Usually sold for around £5.50 per pack of 50 we have dropped the price considerably, you can find our latest lowest price and other clearance items on ebay or visit our online Care Supplies webstore for more.

The face masks form only a small part of our range of disposable Aprons & Clothing for 100 and one tasks within a nursing home, if you’re looking for more information regarding disposable aprons, gloves please free to contact us we would be happy to help.

Wear pink for Breast cancer

It’s almost that time of year again!!!, when I put away the iron maiden t-shirt and put on my pink outfit, now before you start this isn’t my normal Friday work attire this is for charity and a great one at that.

One in nine people in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer so it’s important that people are aware of the disease and how to spot its early signs as catching it as early as possible gives doctors the best chance of beating it.

Wear it pink day 28^th October 2011!!

Don’t forget to show your support by wearing something pink and donating £2 to breast cancer.

Visit http://www.wearitpink.co.uk/ for ideas on how to raise extra money for this great charity

www.bmsupplies.co.uk

Preparing for the Flu Season

Its round about that time of year when most of us start to sniffle and anticipate the first cold of the season, but for some us the flu can be a very unwanted guest.
Last year over 600 people died of the flu which when I consider that last year I cured my flu by lying on the couch with a lemsip is pretty hard to get your head round but for those at risk flu can develop into serious illness such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

The NHS website mentions that the following people are mainly at risk of :

are 65 years old or over, are pregnant, have a serious medical condition,are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility (not including prisons, young offender institutions or university halls of residence), are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill, are a frontline health or social care worker,Its these very people that are being asked to line up for the flu jab as further protection from the flu by receiving the flu jab.

The jab is able to combat the 3 main strains of flu. This includes the H1N1 which was very much the culprit from the 2009 pandemic, which if you look back is not something I would like to see again.

Over 34,000 people in the sefton area have already been vaccinated, if you haven’t yet get in touch with you GP today or if your in need of tissues visit our online store.

For surgeries, nursing and care homes you can ensure you are ready for this type of year by stocking up on gloves, syringes, needles and drug administration products from B&M Supplies.

L.O.L.E.R Inspections on Patient Slings and Hoists

If you’re looking for a service that will cover regular inspections on patient slings as well as periodically testing hoists, you come to the right place!

Our service packages are famous with our customers but more and more are getting involved with our newest service.

Just like a thorough examination on patient hoists our engineer will assess each sling for defects or potential hazardous which is recorded on our standardised l.o.l.e.r certificate, each sling is tested to H.S.E standards and tagged with the date of inspection inspection.

Once we have a record of your tested slings we will contact you on a six monthly basis to arrange you next inspection.

• Full certification for only £20 per sling


• Every tenth sling onsite is examined free of charge


• Peace of mind


• Don’t Forget: Regular checks on your lifting equipment and accessories ensures that the apparatus is safe to use and minimises the risk of injury during a lift.

If you are looking for a sling inspections on multiple sites contact us today for our competitive quote.

For you would like more information regarding L.o.l.er inspection of slings or patient hoists, please feel free to contact us on 01704 553 773

Electric Profiling Bed Hire

With the current financial climate in mind it’s not always cost effective to buy profiling bed out right for short stay guests at a nursing home.

We have put together a rental scheme that not only brings the price of the bed down significantly , it also allows the renter to split the cost of rental into weekly or monthly costs.

Our range of electric profiling beds is sturdy, reliable and carries all the feature customers have come to expect from an electric hospital bed. This includes full head lift, foot rise, rise and lower functions of the bed.

With prices starting from only £40 per week, why not contact us today!

The beds covered by are rental schemes on:

• Electric Profiling Bariatric Beds


• Electric Low Beds


• Standard Electric Profiling Beds

Our rental scheme can also cover equipment such as Active air mattresses, Stand aids, Hoists, Scales and much more, for further information please call 01704 553 773

Delivery & Assembly Service

Delivery, Setup and collection is included in the rental price allowing you to choose when and where you would like the bed delivered, Simply inform us of where and when you would like the bed and leave the rest to us.

For more information on our range of Profiling Beds and currnt prices please visit www.bmsupplies.co.uk

Toilet Paper & Business Consumables

As you may be aware supplying paper products and consumables is competitive business, so much so we have found that sometimes quality is sacrificed to give you a product that has feels cheap and doesn’t match up to the job it’s given.

We have worked very closely with our existing customer base to bring a range of products that not only feels like products at twice the price but delivers a soft blow to the bank account.
So much so B&M Supplies has not only been able to deliver this service to Nursing & Care but to many businesses across the UK who looking for high quality consumables for the workplace.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not declaring that B&M Supplies offer the cheapest prices in the land; I’m just simply stating that our aim is to provide highest quality products at probably the lowest prices around.

Our current range includes:

• Toilet Paper


• Hygiene Rolls


• Jumbo Rolls


• C-fold


• Z-Fold


• Kitchen Roll


• Bulk Pack Toilet Paper


• Couch Roll

As well as the supply of these paper items we can supply a range of desepensers to house the items in.

Don't forget!! if your having trouble finding the item your looking for feel free to give us a call on 01704 553773

Choosing the Right Disposable Examination Glove

When choosing the right Disposable medical Gloves it’s worth considering the differences between each type of glove and of course what these gloves are going to be used for. For example Nitrile gloves are chemical resistant and are great when working with substances such as petrol and oil.

There are four types of glove available:

Latex Disposable Gloves are one of the most popular gloves on the market today; this is due to the flexibility, fit and overall comfort. The glove itself is made from Poly Vinyl Chloride which is very flexible and allows for comfortable fit. There is an allergy concern with this type of glove so a lot of nursing homes/ business tend to use synthetic substitute.

Nitrile Disposable Gloves are very strong and are tactile to use, they tend to be used by the medical profession as an excellent choice for examination procedures. Nitrile gloves are also chemical resistant, strong and durable which means you may see these gloves in garages, mechanics workshop Laboratories and Factories

Vinyl Disposable Gloves are great when working with liquids and are perfect for low level protection as they have a standard barrier protection. These gloves should NOT be used in high risk environments

Synthetic Disposable Gloves differ from latex, as in recent years research has found that people can be allergic to the rubber latex material found in latex gloves. Synthetic & Nitrile gloves offer an alternative to latex although both lack the feeling

Annual Service & Maintenance Contract for Hoists

With over 20 years experience of dealing with repairs and service of all major manufacturers of hoist and lifting equipment, we will ensure that your equipment is repaired quickly and efficiently in case of a breakdown.

For some repairs it is may be necessary to take your hoist away for further repair work, we will provide a loan hoist until your hoist is repaired to ensure that continuous care is given.Customers who choose our service contracts can expect:

• Next day Call out



• Loan hoist supplied if your equipment is taken of site for further repair



• Contacts with every major manufacturer



• Reliability



• Back up service you can trust



• No call out fee or labour



• Bi-Annual Examination & Service

Nursing and Care Home Supplier In The North West

B&M Supplies is a family owned business, an established and well-respected medical supply company within the North West area and the care industry, which has been a provider of moving equipment, pressure relieving equipment, mobility and incontinence supplies for over 15 years.
www. Bmsupplies.co.uk The Nursing & Care Home One Stop Shop!

Working in conjunction with our sister company Liberty work wear we provide uniforms and safety equipment to different sectors of the world of work such as Building site safety wear, chef and catering essentials, logo and embroidery for corporate clothing and, of course nursing, and medical wear.
Our main head office and dispatch centre in Southport boasts a mobility store and cash and carry which is open to the general public 9am-5pm Mon to Friday, this means we can offer our customers the opportunity to try before you buy or see what services we can offer.

As well as providing the general public with advice while buying and offering support to nursing homes B&M supplies work closley with Southport shop mobility, are also contractors to Liverpool social service, St Helens Social Services ,PSS and are activley involved in local events.

This year we have appeared on southports very own radio station Dune 107.9 fm and you may have even visited our stall at this years Southport Flower Show.

We supply a huge range of quality products including medical equipment, uniforms and wheelchairs. In addition, B&M Supplies Engineering Service carries out service/inspections and repairs to equipment in many nursing & care homes situated in the North West.

We can help you with an extensive range of medical supplies from first aid kits, mobility aids, nebulisers, hospital beds, to adult diapers, latex gloves, aprons, carpet cleaning, janitorial products to every day essentials.

If you can't find what you're looking for in the online store don’t worry!

We have access to thousands of product manufacturers across the country in the industry and there’s a good chance we could help you find what you’re looking for.

Please feel free to contact us Contact Details B&m Supplies today at Southport - 01704 553 773