Burton Hospital opens first Changing Places
Burton Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust has recently completed the installation of its first changing places facility.
The project, was managed by Trevor Hickling, Estate Project Support Officer, working alongside Community & Corporate Partnerships Manager Chris Maddox. “As with every hospital, space is at a premium here at Burton so our initial task was to identify a suitable location. Once we had achieved this, we carried out some research and after visiting the Changing Concepts website we invited Peter Davies from Ropox and Neal Dadswell from KingKraft to the hospital to discuss what options were available and which equipment would best suit the needs of our patients and visitors while also ensuring we got the best value for money. As the project was being funded by charitable donations including a substantial legacy, we were determined to make this an outstanding facility for everyone who used it” explained Trevor.
The equipment combination Trevor ultimately went for consisted of a shower and changing bed, slimline mounting with support basin and a toilet lifter with support arms from Ropox which were complimented by a Guldmann tracked ceiling hoist. The installation was project managed by KingKraft.
“We wanted the room to feel welcoming to all and not clinical, hence the use of colours and space. Although it is situated within the hospital grounds, the facility is open to anyone and to help make people aware of its existence it is listed on the Changing Places website. The room is also accessible via the Radar key system so visitors do not have to worry about finding reception and asking for a key” explained Chris Maddox.
The Ropox height adjustable Slimline basin has a height adjustment of 70cm to 100cm, which can be altered at the touch of a button. By combining a mirror and basin in one unit, the mirror is always at the right height regardless of what height the basin is being used at.
Featuring an ergonomic design, the Ropox toilet lifter lowers and lifts the user to the best seated or standing position to enable them to use the toilet with dignity and as much independence as possible. Complimenting the toilet and basin is the Ropox height adjustable shower changing bed which can be folded up when not in use to save space while the height can be set to the ideal level for the user and carer using the easy to operate electric adjustment control. With a maximum user weight of 220kg and a height adjustment from 300mm to 1000mm the changing bed is suitable for most users. To ensure the user is comfortable, the bed’s slats feature a soft top side and to help with cleaning, the slats can be easily removed.
Trevor was keen to include a hoist which could be continually charged wherever it is on the track not just from a charging point and the Guldmann GH3 room covering ceiling hoist system met these criteria. With a maximum lifting capacity of 200KG the GH3 will meet the hoisting requirements of most visitors to hospital along with their carer, family member or friend.
The Burton facility was officially opened in March, when local service users were invited to see the equipment for themselves.
“The feedback we received was fantastic with many people commenting on how easy all the equipment is to use and how much room there was for wheelchair users and their carer or family member who may be assisting them” continued Chris.
“It is incredibly rewarding to hear such positive comments. In 2019 there is no excuse for people having to be changed on a toilet floor and we are looking forward to helping many more people this year to achieve their goal of offering a Changing Places facility which will offer dignity and peace of mind” commented Peter Davies, Ropox.
For more information on the full range of Changing Places solutions available from Ropox visit www.changingconcepts.co.uk or www.ropox.com call 07831 401118 or email pd@ropox.com