Specialist mattresses are well-recognised tools used as part of a strategy for pressure ulcer prevention for those patients who are unable to move, relieve their own pressure or who have an existing pressure ulcer.

NHS Lanarkshire has had a specialist contract in place for many years and mattresses are provided at the point of need for our patients cared for at home or in the hospital setting.

The specialist contract was renewed last year and awarded to Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare (formerly Parkhouse Healthcare) for three years. Drive DeVilbiss have worked closely with staff in NHS Lanarkshire in the past as the supplier of foam mattresses and are familiar with our acute hospital sites.

Carrie McCulloch, senior nurse in tissue viability, said: “Over the coming weeks the tissue viability team along with Drive DeVilbiss will be working ensure a smooth transition to these new mattresses.

“District nurses will be contacted to discuss who is on a mattress in their area, and the simplest way to swap their mattress out.

“Nurses working in the acute division and primary care should look out for information on educational support sessions in the weekly staff briefing and the on the tissue viability FirstPort site. These sessions will advise on the new mattress technology and the ordering system, which has been designed around the needs of staff.

“District nurses, in particular, will have a lot of discussion with Karen McKay, the Drive DeVilbiss nurse advisor, who will be collating all the information and communications around patients at home.

“The transition period will be an opportunity to review patients who are cared for on overlay mattresses at home and who would perhaps benefit from an alternative system.”

Karen McKay added: “This is an exciting and challenging time. We are very keen to make the transition as smooth as possible for patients and staff. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make this happen. However, we do need staff to work in partnership with us and attend education sessions on the new mattresses and also by voicing any potential difficulties within their areas.”

The changeover of mattress will require lots of clear communication between NHS Lanarkshire staff and the Drive DeVilbiss Teams.

Craig Wright, contracts manager for Drive DeVilbiss, said: “Drive Devilbiss Healthcare are delighted to supply pressure relieving equipment to NHS Lanarkshire, having worked with the health board for the past five years, supplying foam mattresses and audit services. Our aim is to provide a range of quality products and an outstanding service to help support clinical staff and improve patient outcomes.”

The requirement is to have the transition process complete for 31 March.

If any staff have any issues or questions around this, or wish to discuss how to plan for the change over with their patients, please contact the tissue viability team 01698 201423.