Calling all and any HCPs, please

[SerendipityJane]

(no googling 😀) Do you know what a Sara Stedy is ?

Yes, very standard bit of kit in my part of the world. It was just coming into play in my old trust when shortly before I left about 6-7 years ago (other transfer aids were avaliable).

I have heard rotastand be mentioned recently, which I havent used in a very long time, so I guess it depends on the area,and colleagues in this trust didn't know what a rotunda was (Sara steady used in its place). So there is much variation around the country.

And yes, at an outpatient setting, they are rarely going to use such transfer aids, but I agree with others, might be worth checking with management what moving and handling training says locally so your friend knows how to ask for appropriate support next time.

Doctor - never heard of it. I do clinics with elderly people/ people with mobility issues. The outpatient clinic does not have mobility aids. People tend to bri g specific things if they need them or we examine in the wheelchair

Many thanks to all the posters who replied. It's nice to get a wider picture.

My friend has used a wheelchair for 20 years. In theory it should be in her notes.

You'd expect that everyone who was going through training to know about physical aids, especially as there is more emphasis on protecting the backs of anyone providing care. Midwives have done basic Nurse training and deal with women from all walks of life and diabetes nurses with leg issues and amputations.

In the services I've worked in we called them standing aids. Which makes more sense. They do have them in care homes. It isn't helpful to use names like Sara Steady, especially for staff who've come from outside the UK.

tbh OP@SerendipityJane I was a live in carer for a wheelchair bound lady with MS when I left school before I trained as an ahp,she had an admission for a UTI…she needed physical help to drink and became very dehydrated in hospital as they weren’t doing this, they even failed to complete her fluid charts so I learnt very early on with disabled clients, never to presume and always to check and check again if there were aspects of their care that were essential. Sad to say ! Good to hear she has a good advocate as her friend.

Well last year when she had to go into hospital. they fitted a catheter to avoid repeated transfers.

Only they managed to fuck it up and it wasn't draining. 2 days in and she would have been dead if someone hadn't kicked up a stink and called them incompetent fuckwits. That's one of the many ongoing PALS cases I mentioned. However it's been superseded by the one about the replacement wheelchair that hadn't had it's anti-tipper set and which crashed back cracking her head open.

Point about brand-specific names taken. Will suggest generic "standing aid" next time.

Is your friend happy for you to keep posting about the issues you are concerned about.

If they work in an area that has very minimal manual handling or transferring required, then why would they know what one is. Sometimes they called a standing aid rather than a sara steady.

HCA's/HCP's would not be checking through notes about what standing aids the patient uses. Sometimes that would be written but it would necessarily be easy to find.

I work in care of the elderly and a Sara Stedy is a vital piece of equipment. We also use a Mackworth stand aid for larger people and a Ross Rollator for those unable to weight bear on one leg.

The staff assisting your friend to transfer should never have used the old ‘heave ho’ manoeuvre. They should have up to date moving and handling training and know this.