STORAGE SYSTEMS
‘Before’ (left) and ‘after’ (right) photos showing how vertical storage can transform a room creating useable space whilst storing and charging hospital beds in a safe manner for both staff and equipment. This installation consists of six five-high bedlifts and one four-high bariatric bedlift, allowing for 34 beds to be stored in just over the space of seven hospital beds.
to better patient outcomes and overall operational efficiency. Of course repurposed floor space can also be utilised to expand facilities and accommodate growing demands. Hospitals can create new patient rooms, add specialised units, or enhance existing departments to meet the evolving needs of the community. This flexibility allows hospitals to adapt to changing healthcare trends and provide comprehensive care to a larger patient population.
Protecting valuable assets Hospital beds cost the NHS thousands of pounds every year – whether that be through purchasing, renting, or just simply maintaining and repairing. If you don’t look after your investments, it always costs you money in the long run. So why would you not put in a system that protects one of your most valuable assets? By storing beds in the traditional side-by- side way, beds are at a significant risk of damage. Bed frames, mattresses, and other components can easily be scratched, dented, or even broken when beds are stacked on top of one another, or similarly damaged by passing traffic along hospital corridors. This can lead to costly repairs, or the need for premature bed replacement. In contrast, vertical storage offers a solution that enhances bed protection. By utilising designated compartments, beds can be individually secured, minimising the risk of accidental collisions, and ensuring a long lifespan. Each bed is carefully placed in its own dedicated space, eliminating the potential for damage caused by stacking or shifting during storage. The vertical storage system provides a
safe and secure environment for hospital beds. The compartments are designed to accommodate the specific dimensions of each bed, ensuring a snug fit that prevents movement and reduces the risk of damage. By protecting beds from unnecessary damage, healthcare facilities can
72 Health Estate Journal October 2023
effectively manage their bed inventory, and reduce the associated financial burden. The cost of repairing or replacing damaged beds can be significant, especially for large hospitals with a high number of beds. Vertical storage helps minimise these costs by preventing damage in the first place. Furthermore, the enhanced bed
protection offered by vertical storage systems contributes to the overall efficiency of healthcare facilities. With beds stored securely and protected from damage, staff can easily locate and retrieve beds when needed, reducing the time and effort required for bed management. This allows healthcare providers to focus on delivering quality care to patients, rather than dealing with the logistical challenges of damaged or misplaced beds.
An ‘innovative storage solution’ The Vidir Vertical Bed Management System provides enhanced bed protection by minimising the risk of damage and ensuring the longevity of hospital beds. By investing in this innovative storage solution, healthcare facilities can effectively manage their bed inventory, reduce financial burdens, and improve overall operational efficiency. Hospitals are at a high risk of fire
hazards, with the single biggest cause being electrical faults such as faulty or overloaded circuits. Not only do hospitals accommodate large numbers of people, but a number of those individuals will also be vulnerable, sick, and not be able- bodied, or even able to walk themselves out along an evacuation route should a fire occur. If a carefully planned fire evacuation plan isn’t put into place the consequences would be disastrous. With an ever-increasing population, demands on hospitals are forcing areas not designed for medical use to be used, which usually involves going deeper into the hospital, and therefore making it a longer route out in sometimes difficult-to-navigate areas.
A fire evacuation plan will always involve
a safe route to evacuate for all those concerned, but what if those routes are partially blocked due to unused hospital beds stored within the corridor, or in a small room which is a route through to an exit? The vertical solution helps hospitals achieve fire safety standards by delivering a safe and secure place for hospital beds to be stored, taking them away from corridors and areas that should be kept clear for rights of way. Furthermore, a vertical bed storage solution contributes to a more organised and clutter-free environment. By utilising vertical space, hospitals can maximise their floor space and create a more efficient layout. This enables porter staff to navigate through the facility more easily, reducing the time spent moving between different areas. The improved efficiency in bed storage and retrieval also translates into faster turnaround times for patient admissions and discharges, ultimately increasing the hospital’s capacity to provide timely and effective care. By implementing this solution as part
of comprehensive fire safety strategies, hospitals can create a safer and more efficient environment for both patients and staff.
Case study Kingston Hospital in Kingston upon Thames, south-west London, is a district general hospital, with approximately 450 acute and general hospital beds, supporting around 350,000 people in Kingston, Richmond, and Elmbridge, and delivering care for more than half a million patients a year. In 2018, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was the first acute Trust in the London region to achieve ‘Outstanding’ for its quality of care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The Trust first contacted Medescon
in August 2020 looking for a solution to its hospital bed storage issues. The hospital’s existing bed storeroom was too
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