New state-of-the-art electric beds which are designed to improve comfort for patients while reducing the risk of pressure ulcers are being introduced at West Suffolk Hospital.

The Trust took delivery of the first batch of 79 beds on Saturday, with a further 79 due in April. The final consignment, taking the total number to 236, will arrive next year. Altogether, West Suffolk will invest £525,000 in the new technology.

The new beds are fully adjustable and can be set in a variety of different positions. They can support patients sitting upright, which can be beneficial for those with chest problems or who have difficulty swallowing, and are also specially designed to evenly spread the patient’s weight. As well as making them more comfortable, this can also help prevent pressure ulcers.

Matron Tracey Oats said: “These new beds will make a big difference to both patients and staff. As well as being more comfortable, they are very simple to use and can be fully adjusted into whichever position suits that particular patient.

“This can be especially useful for people who need help with eating or who would benefit from sitting upright to help with chest complaints or other medical problems.

“The new beds will also reduce the amount of manual handling done by staff, while the technology is so advanced that any issues which do occur with the mechanisms can easily be solved simply by plugging it into a laptop.

“We will be phasing the beds in across the Trust over the coming months and are really pleased that we have been able to invest this significant sum into something which will make a real difference for both patients and staff alike.”

The equipment will replace older electric models and pump up beds, which have to be adjusted manually by staff.

Any beds which are no longer needed by West Suffolk will be cleaned and donated to Aid to Hospitals Worldwide, which recycles medical equipment in the developing world.