furniture


Wait for it!


Comfort and durability are key to the specification of chairs for waiting areas in hospitals and health centres


I


n most healthcare settings, waiting rooms are in constant use, and by a wide variety of people. And many may view these areas as


simply rooms in a building, not giving much thought to the design, nor the furniture within them. However, given that the average


patient spends a fair amount of time sitting in waiting room chairs; it’s worth considering whether patient needs are currently being met when it comes to furniture specification.


Due to the fact that waiting room


chairs are so frequently used; it’s quite obvious they need to be durable and of high quality. But, beyond the basic needs; what


other aspects need to be considered within the healthcare industry?


Physical comfort Richard Kemsley of UK Healthcare Chairs, advises: “Perhaps one of the most-important requirements of a waiting room chair is that it provides a


comfortable place to sit. This is especially important in the waiting rooms of GP surgeries and A&E departments, where patients or their loved-ones may be sitting for some time waiting for test results or undergoing a procedure.” He added: “In many cases, people


who are waiting to see a healthcare professional are not feeling well, or may have suffered an injury. People in situations like these may already be physically uncomfortable, so providing them with a comfortable place to wait to be seen will give them a much-more- pleasant experience.”


Special needs And, for some people, the experience may not be a positive one. “Individuals in healthcare waiting


rooms might be experiencing a number of different emotions that are difficult to cope with,” said Kemsley. “Waiting for news can create a


stressful and emotionally-draining situation, so providing a comfortable place to wait can help ease the burden.” Individuals with special needs may


also require more-specialist seating. For example, elderly patients may


have mobility issues, making it rather difficult for them to sit in, and rise from, a normal chair. Larger patients or family members


may also find it difficult to sit in a standard chair, so it’s important that waiting room furniture is complete with a number of bariatric products as well as chairs designed for use by the elderly, with arms and high backs. “By providing waiting room furniture


that guarantees physical and emotional support, you’ll be able to cater to the varied needs of patients and their family members,” said Kemsley. “For many, visiting a healthcare


professional can be a worrying event, and any creature comfort available can help make the experience a more- positive one.” And maintenance is key, so chairs


need to be easy to clean and individual parts need to be available in case of damage in order to reduce the cost of repairs.


www.ukhealthcarechairs.co.uk


healthcaredm.co.uk 53


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