Bassetlaw: Hospital introduces new mattresses to help prevent pressure ulcers

The Karomed Transair mattresses work by detecting pressure points on a patient’s body, for example the shoulders, buttocks and heels.

The skin is protected from friction and pressure damage by the many air-filled cushions or cells located inside the mattress, which gently inflate and deflate via an electric pump.

“Patient Roy Murphy, who recently arrived on the Stirling Ward at Doncaster and is using one of the mattresses said: “It’s good to know that the hospital is looking out for patients.”

“Personally I didn’t think I would be at risk of getting a skin sore.”

“But the nurses have said that you can get one very quickly if you can’t move around much and the mattress will protect me.”

The Trust’s Tissue Viability team provide specialist advice and support to patients who suffer ulcers.

Tracy Vernon, the Trust’s lead nurse for tissue viability, said: “We have taken big steps towards our goal of driving down the number of pressure ulcers in our hospitals.”

“That’s why we automatically provide these mattresses to all patients who attend our emergency departments and assessment areas. 2

“Our view is that we assess these patients as being at very high risk of developing a pressure ulcer even though they may be fine.”

“It’s far better to prevent a skin ulcer from occurring than treat one once it has developed.”