Regalo Swing Down Bedrail (110 x 50 cm)

Product Information

If you say “No” to any of the questions MHRA advises the risk of entrapment is ‘high’ and you will have to put measures in place to mitigate the risk. Myths in using bed rails

Do you have enough information from the supplier to be able to select and fit the bed rail appropriately? Does the benefit of any special or extra mattress outweigh any increased entrapment risk by the bed rails created by extra compression at the mattress edge? Review the medical device management system (inventory/database) for your organisation or third-party provider for devices within your organisation, including those which have been provided to a community setting (for example, the patient’s own home). Keep this system up to date.

What is the risk?

Other risk factors (such as inappropriate use or incompatibility) are included in the MHRA’s updated guidance on the management and safe use of bed rails and should be considered as part of an appropriate risk assessment. An example risk assessment is provided in Appendix 1 of the guidance. Assessment of appropriate bed rails should be routinely incorporated in the clinical assessment of all patients. This was a breach of Regulation 12(1) and 12(2) as care and treatment were not provided in a safe way. The service was rated as inadequate against the question, ‘Is the service safe?’. There followed four incidents where the man became trapped in a bed rail, or attempted to climb over it. Within four weeks of being discharged, he fell out of bed and re-fractured his hip. He died in hospital.

The first offence concerned a 98-year-old man who fractured his hip during a fall at the home in August 2015 but was discharged to the home after treatment in hospital. Imagine yourself as a resident of a care home. Getting admitted to a care home itself can be very upsetting and also thoughts about losing independence. The last thing you want to do is, putting up the side rails on the first day of admission as a surprise when they were used to lying down in a normal bed trhoughout theier life. You, as a resident, will be having the following questions to ask your professionals? Children and adults with atypical anatomy should be using beds or cots compliant with BS EN 50637:2017 unless there is a clinical reason for using a non-compliant bed, which should be documented, including any steps which need to be taken to reduce risk. Older beds, which might previously have been intended for children, may not comply with the requirements set out in this standard, as it was introduced in 2017, and therefore there may be a higher risk of entrapment with these beds. Actions required Review patients who are children or adults with atypical anatomy as a priority. Ensure the equipment they have been provided with is compliant with BS EN 50637:2017 unless there is a reason for using a non-compliant bed. Record this on the risk assessment and put in place measures to reduce entrapment risks as far as possible.

See also

Have you made sure that there no gaps present that could present an entrapment risk to any part of patient’s body? Does the manufacturer/supplier provide any information on special considerations or contra-indications? Investigations into incidents involving falls often found the likely cause to be worn or broken parts, which should have been replaced during regular maintenance and servicing, but which were either not carried out or were carried out improperly. trapping between the bedrail and mattress, headboard or other parts because of poor bedrail positioning.