Apr 042012
The Aged Care Complaints Scheme has just released an Industry feedback alert about the use of bed poles in aged care services. It can be found in the Industry toolkit.
The alert is based on the NSW Coroner’s findings into an inquest related to the use of bed poles in residential aged care homes. We encourage all approved providers to:
- read the report, which can be found online on the NSW Government Lawlink website
- make key personnel aware of the information in the report and this alert
- take action if appropriate.
The NSW Coroner’s report highlighted the following important considerations:
- Aged care services should not use KA524 bed poles due to unacceptable risk.
- Aged care services must have adequate staff to patient ratios overnight.
- Aged care staff must immediately check a resident for signs of life in an emergency situation, be competent in performing resuscitations and be aware of emergency care protocols.
In an alert on 8 July 2010 we recommended that when mobility aids such as bed poles are used:
- they are used appropriately following the assessment by an appropriate health professional
- placement of the mobility aids and the risks associated with use have been assessed and documented
- their use is frequently monitored.
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Dear Jodie,
We have contacted the NSW Coroner’s office seeking clarification on their advice regarding KA542 bed poles. The NSW Coroner has informed us that ‘their attention at the Inquest was in relation to the single bed pole (KA542)’ and that ‘they made no findings in regards to the other (double) ...
... bed pole (KA542D)’.
In assessing the appropriateness of using the KA542D (double bed pole) in your service, your organisation may find it helpful to consider what other sources say about this topic. In April 2012, the manufacturer of the KA542 released a Product Awareness Bulletin. Safe Work SA has also issued a Safeguards report on the use of bed poles in general.
You may also consider whether the risks identified by the NSW Coroner in relation to the single bed option would also be applicable to care recipients in your service who may utilise the double bed equivalent.
Hi,
I am still trying to clarify which bed stick is being recommended to avoid due to the risk. The coroner’s report specifiies KA542 which is a single pronged stick, however by reading the report it is evident that they are descibing a double pronged stick which is actually KA542D. I ...
... am aware that some hosptials has stopped prescribing the single pronged stick, whilst others are avoiding the double pronged stick.
Is anyone able to clarify which bedstick is being questioned as it is having a huge impact for bedstick prescription!
Thanks,
Jodie
Hi Jane
Thank you for your question.
The report was from the Office of the NSW Coroner however the findings are applicable to services throughout Australia.
This alert is not a directive to remove bed poles from all aged care facilities but it does highlight the importance of assessing and monitoring ...
... their use. We recommend that you read the NSW Coroner’s report and take any appropriate action.
hello
just to clarify, are the bed sticks to be removed from all aged care facilities Australia wide, im from a country victoria facility, the coroners report is from NSW.
thankyou
Jane
Hi Shirley
Thank you for your comment. The bed pole in question is the KA524 model, as per the NSW Coroner’s report. We have corrected this post and the Industry feedback alert.
Evocare Australia is the supplier of this bed pole and pictures of it can be found on their //expand comment"); //]]>
... href="http://http://www.evocare.com.au/bed_accessories.html" rel="nofollow">website.
Hi Lisa and Sandy
Thank you for your comment.
The NSW Coroner’s report outlined that aged care services should not use the KA524 bed pole as there is an unacceptable risk associated with it. The report does not refer to the KA524D (double) bed pole in these findings. You may wish to ...
... contact the Office of the NSW State Coroner for further clarification as they issued the original advice.
Hi,
Can you please confirm that it is the KA524 (single bed pole) that should not be used and not the KA524D (double bed pole)?
Thank you.
Hi
Could someone please clarify.
Was the bed pole a single or a double.
KA524 is a single, KA524D is a double, which one is the coroner talking about.
Regards
Sandy
Hi Christine
Thanks for pointing out this error. It was the KA524 bed pole, as per the NSW Coroner’s report.
We have corrected this post and the Industry feedback alert.
Can you please provide a picture of the KA542 bed pole.
Hello
Could you let me know if the bed stick in use at the time of the incident was a KA542 (which I can find no information on) or the KA524 which is made by US manufacturer K Care Healthcare Equipment and distributed in Australia by Evocare.
I am ...
... the WHS Co-ordinator at Garden Village Port Macquarie and would like check the bed sticks that we have in use.
Regards, Christine