Early mobilisation chairs are designed to help patients get out of bed and potentially move around sooner after surgery or when in critical care or high dependency. They provide support and comfort, and are designed to reduce the risk of complications when moving a patient – so they have a layflat feature and you can attach IV poles, catheter bags and oxygen bottles to the multifunctional chair.
However, early mobilisation chairs are not without their drawbacks. They are not designed for a patient to sit in all day, and because they are multifunctional, they can be larger than a typical ward chair. Additionally, they are more expensive than your average ward chair.
Here are some of the expectations and realities of using early mobilisation chairs:
Expectation: Early mobilisation chairs will help the patient to get out of bed and move around sooner after surgery.
Reality: Early mobilisation chairs can help the patient to get out of bed and move around sooner, they can also aid in getting the patient into the correct positioning for physio, but physio and other treatments are the most important part of patient recovery, the chair is designed to support.
Expectation: Early mobilisation chairs will be comfortable.
Reality: Early mobilisation chairs can be comfortable, but they may not be as comfortable as a hospital bed! The patient may need to take some time to get used to sitting in the chair.
Expectation: Early mobilisation chairs will be easy to get in and out of.
Reality: If the patient has limited mobility, they will need help from a HCP or physio when first using the chair. However, the care chairs do offer a layflat feature that allows the patient to be pat slid from bed to chair, and they are electronically height adjustable, so the chair can be raised to the bed height.
Expectation: Early mobilisation chairs are cheap.
Reality: Due to the complex nature of an early mobilisation chair and its multifunctional design, chairs are not cheap, but they are cost effective as thwir lifespan can be up to 15 years, depending on servicing and maintenance. Also, the CH5 standard and bariatric versions are made right here in the UK, so their CO2 emissions are far lower.
We also offer a number of different options on these care chairs – such as :
Purchasing outright via NHS Supply Chain. They can be purchased via the Medical Furniture Framework, contact your NHS Supply Chain buyer here to obtain a URN.
Rental – we hire out these chairs on a weekly basis if you would like to “try before you buy”. Just contact us here for a rental quote.
Overall, early mobilisation chairs are a brilliant tool for patients who are recovering from surgery or have been critically ill and are in recovery.
