February 2023 - Prism Medical UK, moving, handling and bathing solutions

Posted on 21st February 2023 by Liz.Lepley

Prism Medical UK is delighted to announce that it has been certified by TrustMark, conveying its commitment to providing high-quality products and customer experience.

Not only are we dedicated to recommending the best solutions for our clients, but we also understand how important it is to look after people’s homes while we work, and that is why we take great care to ensure that our client’s home is treated with the utmost respect. Our team of experienced professionals is committed to ensuring that our customer’s home is kept clean and safe throughout our work.

TrustMark is a government-endorsed quality scheme, and to qualify, we needed to demonstrate the required standards of technical ability, customer service and trading practices.

At Prism Medical UK, we have established teams and regional service centres, allowing us to provide national coverage of field-based staff.

Our team of assessors are product experts who work with the caregiver and client to recommend the optimum solution based on need and environment. They maintain a good knowledge of building regulations and health and safety requirements to ensure their recommendations are suitable.

A regional installation team will be scheduled to install fitted solutions, such as stairlifts or ceiling track hoists. Our installers are trained to an exceptionally high standard, meaning they have the skills, knowledge and qualifications to carry out a high-quality install. Annual training keeps them abreast of product and regulatory changes.

A dedicated workforce supports them (from schedulers and customer service advisors to sewing machinists and quality engineers), ensuring the quality of our products and services. This quality is evident in the various quality standards, directives and accreditations we have been awarded, including:

ISO 9001 Quality Management
ISO 13485:2016 QMS for Medical Devices
BS EN 81-40:2008 Stairlifts and Inclined Platforms
BS EN 81-41:2010 Vertical Lifting Platforms
BS 5900:2012 Powered Home Lifts
BS EN ISO 10535:2016/21 Hoists for the Transfer of Disabled Persons
Member of/accredited by LEIA, BHTA, NICEIC, CHAS and Constructionline Gold.

Please get in touch to find out how we can support you with our range of bathing, moving and handling solutions.

Posted on 10th February 2023 by Liz.Lepley

Faizal is 62 and had a stroke five years ago. Consequently, he has been left with a left-sided weakness leaving him unable to stand. Faizal lives with his 60-year-old wife, Nadia; they have been married for 30 years and have two children, both of whom are away at university. Faizal is hoisted for all transfers, a transition which he and Nadia have found difficult, particularly allowing paid carers into the family home to support Faizal with personal care.

Nadia works from home and, through the day, supports her husband by preparing all his meals and maintaining the family home. Nadia uses care calls as an opportunity to go out and attend to shopping.

Over the last six months, Faizal has been experiencing issues with his continence. Before this, Faizal was well-regulated and hoisted onto a T40 commode/shower chair to open his bowels and pass urine; however, more frequently, Faizal can’t wait. This has become a concern for Faizal, Nadia and the district nursing service, who are increasingly concerned about pressure damage. Nadia’s primary concern is that overnight, she struggles to move Faizal, which means he is lying in his soiled pad all evening.

Faizal and Nadia were visited the following week by an OT from social services, and they discussed the potential for Nadia to be able to support her husband overnight. It is agreed that hoisting is unrealistic as Faizal states he isn’t always aware when he has opened his bowels or passed urine. The OT discusses a strategy of making it possible for Nadia to turn her husband, clean him and change his pad on her own overnight.

Nadia discusses with the carers the possibility of hoisting Faizal onto the commode overnight on her own. The carers advise her that it is illegal to hoist single-handedly, and they will have to report this to social services if they think this is what she is doing. Nadia discusses this with the district nurse when she visits, who advises that the carers’ advice doesn’t sound quite right and refers her to the local social services team for an urgent Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment to see how Nadia can support her husband overnight.

Freeway T40 Shower Chair

Mackworth Essentials Satin Sheets

Prism FSG200

Freeway Transactive Xtra

Faizal and Nadia agree to try a satin sheet bed management system and a gantry hoist. The OT shows the couple how the combination of the two (in conjunction with a positional wedge) can enable Nadia to turn Faizal, allowing Nadia to attend to her husband’s personal care. Faizal and Nadia trialled this for two weeks, and although initially, it was quite an adjustment for them both, the trial was successful. Nadia described the process as “easy”, and Faizal stated the turn is smoother than when the carers do it! Following this initial success, Faizal and Nadia allow the OT to look into installing a permanent Ceiling Track Hoist. They also discuss Nadia’s potential to hoist Faizal into a chair in the future.

This case study is based on a real-life situation that OTs come up against regularly. In this case, the carers in the area are not trained in single-handed care; however, this does not stop the OT from empowering the client and his wife. Using systems such as gantry hoists, bed management systems and wedges can reduce the strain on carers in handling operations. This could reduce the number of carers required at each call.

Case study courtesy of our friends at Athena Handling Ltd.

Month: February 2023

Prism Medical UK Awarded Prestigious TrustMark for Commitment to Quality Service

Faizal and Nadia Case Study: Single-handed care for a stroke patient

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As we prepare for a new year, we reflect on an extraordinary 2021. Our goal is to make care easier, and we will continue to be by your side.