Hospital bed to hire or buy?

[tobee]

Does anyone know where to look or what prices to expect?

My dad needs one to come out of hospital as part of his care package and I'm trying to help mum get the best suitable for him.

I'm not sure I'm looking in the right places!

Thanks!

Thank you @Frankenbetty

Reading all these replies I've gone to bed feeling quite angry. Why has no one called to talk to me about this thoroughly and made an appointment to assess my parents' home? Why has no one told us what sort of bed and mattress is needed? It's all so slipshod. It's like they don't care if dad has an unsafe discharge.

They're just speaking to mum who is 89 and can't hear very well. She just got out of the same hospital as dad's in now in July after suffering a minor stroke and is still not fully recovered.

I'm in the mood to read the riot act to someone tomorrow.

I’d wait to ‘read the riot act’ until you actually know what is going on/is planned. And even then ‘riot acts’ aren’t helpful.

As you say it’s all 3rd hand & may be inaccurate.

It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had an older patient decline services/ state that their daughter has arranged x and y, or that you’re not to be disturbed on holiday and speak to their wife (ignoring their deafness)
with a patient who has capacity that can’t be overruled - even if frustrating to you, the clinician and everyone else.

Could be as simple as - when discharge comes you’ll need a bed - but discharge not yet suitable. Or it could be ‘an electric bed might help x/y but not nhs eligible’ or’we’ve referred to social work it might take a while to get to the top of the list’

or it might be a giant mess. You won’t know until tomorrow at least.

Are they anywhere near Oxford OP?

I suspect your mum is down as next of kin / first contact. They can therefore only speak with her. Your dad needs to be the one who says who to speak to, presuming he has capacity. They don’t have time to speak with all family members so as a family you need to decide who this is. But please be
mindful on how your mum may feel if it’s not her. I agree with OP. Totally understand your frustrations but it sounds like you haven’t really been there to have the discussions and a lot is being based on second or third hand information. By all means sit with your dad and the OT / discharge team to ask questions but please be kind. Everyone is doing their best in a very broken system.

Try and speak to someone on the ward tomorrow, ideally the OT directly and get to the bottom of it.
If he needs a hospital bed (each county will have their own criteria but likely if he has a significant pressure sore or is recieving care on the bed and 'bed bound') it should be provided for discharge. However, NRS, a leading equipment provider went bust last month and this has caused chaos so this may be why they do not have one to provide.
Many people unfortunately believe their family member 'needs' a hospital bed when they don't meet the criteria.
Hope you managed to get to the bottom of it and get him home soon, it must all be so stressful to organise from a distance.

Do you have power of attorney for their health issues? You need to be in a position where you are kept in the loop.

Social care/OT provided everything my parent needed for their home care - all sourced, delivered and set up by them.

When my DM broke her hip the OH provided us with a hospital bed, perching stools, a high back chair, commode, walking frames and a three wheel walker for outside. I must admit I was very surprised at the time. Two years on and DM has made a good recovery but we’ve still had to keep a couple of things but most have been returned. I hope you get this sorted Op. I really feel for you, it must be a huge worry.

Does your dad lack capacity to make his own decisions @tobee ? If so does anyone have poa for health?

The hospital should provide one. Round here it's Millbrook who source and deliver aids at home.

I've calmed down a bit now 😊

My mum, sister and I all have power of attorney for dad - health and financial. It's not yet been determined if he has capacity formally I believe.

No. Surrey

I'm the sort of person who reads the riot act only in my head to strangers. And then have a word with myself and then communicate politely. 😀

He's formally diagnosed with mixed dementia about 5 years ago but not sure he is at the level where he lacks capacity from what I can tell

Surrey uses Millbrook to supply and fit equipment.

Right thanks @LIZS

@tobee Oh that’s a shame as I have my mums with fancy air flow mattress etc and the company that supplied it have gone bust so won’t collect it.

Keep on at the OT and they should be able to help 🤞🏻

To echo what others have said- the hospital should be assessing your dad and organising the appropriate bed, mattress, pressure mattress, hoist, commode, slide sheets/board or whatever is needed. I would cancel the hired bed ASAP!

I'd ask your mum to add you as a contact for the hospital NOK list and ask to speak to the OT, discharge planner and/or ward sister where he is. He should NOT be discharged to a rented bed IMO.

Even IF it suited his needs perfectly (which is unlikely) you could be stuck paying the fees for months/years on end until the community team get around to providing one- IF they ever do!!!