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