Hello, I’m Lee Atterbury, your Servicing Co-ordinator here at Hcsuk.
After recently dealing with a couple of challenging bath / bath hoist repairs, I wanted to talk about bath hoists in more detail and how to keep them in tip top working condition, in the hope of keeping family members and care staff safe, and helping you save time and money.
Bathing for loved ones who struggle with mobility can be a frustrating and challenging experience, and bath hoists are certainly a great aid to ensure that having a bath can be a comfortable and relaxing experience…as it should be!
It is vital however, to keep bath hoists / bath lifts in impeccable working order as it is all other lifting equipment, where the elderly and disabled individuals using the equipment are extremely vulnerable, it is of paramount importance that risks are minimised.
I’ve been speaking with our Field Service Engineer, Phil Cotton, who would like to share with you his top tips on how to keep your bath hoist in good working condition.
Regular Thorough Cleaning
Phil says ‘bath hoists and bath lifts are exposed to corrosive conditions, as the bath is at high risk of water damage which could affect the motorised element of the equipment. Therefore, the importance of regular cleaning is a key part of bath hoist maintenance.
Wiping the equipment down and allowing it to dry thoroughly can help prevent mildew or mould building up in the joints and the moving parts of the bath. Doing this regularly will prevent parts becoming seized and keeping them moving easily. This will make the workings of the bath/bath hoist last longer as there will be minimal resistance when using the hoist.
Draining Elevating Baths
Where elevating type baths are concerned, ensure the bath is at the highest point when draining the water away to ensure it’s all fully drained off before lowering the bath to the ground. This will reduce the risk of stale water congregating in the flexible pipe u-bend and causing any unwelcome odours.
Regular LOLER Inspections
Bath hoists fall under LOLER ( Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) regulations in the same way mobile and fixed lifting hoists do, so they need to be weight tested every 6 months.
For more information on LOLER and what your responsibilities are for the servicing and maintenance of your care equipment, you can download our latest free guide to Essential Best Practice and Industry Requirements here.
As part of our periodic six-monthly 25 Point Safety Check Service and LOLER examination of your baths and bath hoists, you can expect Phil to thoroughly check the following:
- Handset
- Mains cable
- Taps / pipes – including checks for leaks
- Bath door and seals
- Chassis
- General structure of bath
- Shower / shower head and hose (including water temperature doesn’t exceed 41 degrees)
You can watch our Phil Cotton here, in action, completing our 25 Point Safety Check Service and LOLER examination for a bath hoist for one of our 'Premium' servicing customers.
Phil will then issue you with a full and detailed inspection report for your records along with copies of his work report and LOLER certificate.
Phil always works in a safe, courteous, and conscientious manner, and prides himself on the level of service and inspection he provides, with the safety and comfort of your family members at the forefront of his mind at all times.
Phil is fully vaccinated of course and carries the letter from the NHS testifying to this everywhere he goes, as per government guidance, and for your peace of mind.
Here’s what one of our happy customers had to say about us and the level of service we provide:
“HCSUK provide an invaluable service to the nursing home that I manage. they provide all our equipment servicing, repairs, provision of new equipment and support and advice where required. the contact me to let me know when any equipment is due for service to ensure we continually meet all legislative and legal demands. Their planning and provision ensure that here in the nursing service we can deliver the high quality of care that our service users deserve. As well as the forward planning, HCSUK are responsive to any emergencies we may have if equipment breaks down or we need to purchase additional items. They always respond immediately and can source anything we need. Their engineer will come and visit at short notice when required. We pride ourselves in that we use service providers who can deliver the highest quality service that is responsive, dynamic and fulfilling. Their customer service is without doubt the best I have ever experienced in my 30 years of working in health care and I would recommend them to everyone. They are always my first point of call when I need something as I am always confident that they will provide what we need , when we need it and at a price that is competitive.” Neil B – Deputy Nursing Manager.
If you have any questions regarding baths or bath hoists, or would like us to service and maintain yours, in addition to any other patient lifting equipment you may have, please call us today on 01773 713713 or email us at servicing@hcsuk.co.uk
We’d love to hear from you.
For more information on how we can help you with a full servicing and maintenance package for your care home, you can download our free servicing guide: Creating Safer Environments in Care Homes here https://blog.hcsuk.co.uk/helping-you-to-create-safer-care-environments-guide
