Did you know that ONLY 1 in 4 people, that’s just 25%, are now considered suitable for a toileting or access sling? - As stated by clinical advisors and senior board members of the National Back Exchange.
Why is this the case?
The design of a toileting sling is very specific, for facilitating assisting the people we support who don’t have weight bearing abilities to use a toilet or commode, to receive personal care afterwards and then be redressed with maximum dignity. This type of personal care is a very sensitive and intimate issue and a good toileting sling should have a sufficiently open design for use without soiling. Design is important with any sling but particularly with a toileting/commode (or hygiene) sling. Some slings have access or a small aperture at the base of the sling but their designs do differ and just because they have an aperture this does not necessarily make a good toileting sling
With this necessary open design comes safety concerns, as traditional toileting slings offer very little support and residents who do not have good sitting balance or sufficient trunk support are at risk of falling out during hoisting resulting in severe injuries, from broken bones through to fatalities.
What can go wrong?
‘Selection of the wrong type of sling for the individual, or for the specific task can result in inadequate support and increased risk of falling from the sling. For example, access/toileting slings give a great degree of access but very little support and their use should therefore be restricted to toileting purposes, where appropriate’
As highlighted In HSE’s ‘Getting to grips with hoisting people’
Also because they are quick and easy to fit, and also the lack of awareness of care staff about different types of slings and their correct applications, they are being widely misused for general transfers, and in some community settings traditional toileting slings have been removed altogether due to widespread misuse and health and safety concerns.
Here at Hcsuk we are proud to be working in partnership with Joerns Healthcare, the name behind the trusted OXFORD brand of HOISTs and slings to offer you a range of high-quality, best-value integrated solutions.
Our new, innovative range of low back and high back toileting slings which offer additional back and head support and are therefore much safer than traditional style toileting slings.
The Oxford High Back Sling
How safe are your residents you are currently transferring in toileting slings? Here’s how Hcsuk can help you learn more:
- Provide a free sling awareness and training session for your staff (on the purchase of our sling range)
- Help with assessments of individual residents
- Recommend correctly sized, fit for purpose sling solutions.
To help you to achieve:
- Improved safety for your staff and residents
- Increase your compliance with legislation
- Reduced accidents or falls
- Improved resident comfort and confidence during hoisting
To find out more please call Beckie TODAY on 01773 713713 or email her at sales@hcsuk.co.uk.
Come back next week to read how to select the correct sling.
