Here at Hcsuk Servicing, we understand that when it comes to running a care home, ensuring that all of your care equipment is functioning properly and efficiently is vital for the health of your staff and the wellbeing and quality of life of the people you support.
Whether it's a hoist, wheelchair, bed or mattress, it's essential to keep that equipment in good working order to prevent the risk of accidents and to ensure that your residents are comfortable and well-cared for.
Because if it isn’t, this can cause you lots of headaches, endless entries in the maintenance book, potential downtime of essential equipment, residents unable to be cared for safely, and hours of unnecessary about costs for your maintenance team.
One way to stay ahead is to have an ongoing and regular pre-planned servicing and maintenance plan. This involves having an independently trained expert inspect and maintain your equipment periodically, usually every six- or twelve-months dependant on the type of equipment.
This type of regular maintenance can help identify any potential problems before they become more serious, which helps you prevent the inconvenience of equipment break downs and the additional costs of unnecessary premature replacements.
Here are some ways regular servicing can help extend the life of your care home equipment:
During servicing, a trained technician will thoroughly inspect each piece of your equipment and identify any potential issues that may need attention. They will pick up things such as loose screws or bolts, worn-out components or parts that require lubrication or replacement, and advise on any replacement parts needed. At Hcsuk our Servicing van is well stocked with spare parts to enable us to get your equipment repaired quickly and efficiently, with the minimum of downtime for you.
These small issues may not be noticeable during everyday use, but they can lead to more significant problems if left unaddressed. Early detection can save time and money, helping to prevent future emergency breakdown call out expenses and equipment from becoming dangerous to use.
Equipment that is regularly serviced will function at its best. Simple!
Regular servicing includes lubricating and adjusting components to ensure everything is working optimally. Your care staff will also be advised on how to maintain and use the equipment correctly by our diligent service engineer to help prolong its life, especially where battery life and condition is concerned.
Regular servicing can be an upfront cost, but it can lead to significant cost savings in the long run. Preventing breakdowns, replacing damaged parts, and repairing damaged equipment can be costly. By servicing equipment regularly, you can extend the lifespan of the equipment, reducing the need for costly replacements or repairs.
6 monthly slings inspections are one area where Hcsuk's service engineer especially tries to give best use advice for the laundry and storage of slings and liaises with the care home managers in the hope of saving them undue costs of slings replacements due to lack of care during use or when being washed.
Care homes are subject to strict health and safety regulations, and regular servicing ensures that your equipment is operating in compliance with these regulations, and that residents are safe and comfortable.
This also applies to CQC and Local Authority inspections, as clear concise documentation evidencing regular servicing and maintenance of your equipment, indicates that you are following operating a Safe and Well Led service and following due diligence procedures correctly.
Regular servicing offers peace of mind for you, your staff and residents' families alike. Knowing that equipment is in a good condition and regularly maintained can reassure everyone involved that the equipment is safe and reliable to use, and any downtime is reduced to a bare minimum.
By investing in regular servicing, you can ensure you’re providing a safe and comfortable environment for your residents, whilst also helping to keep running costs down.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any aspect of servicing of your care equipment, why not book a call today, with Lee, your Servicing Support Manager here .
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