The VELA Bariatric+ patient chair: Reducing WRMSDs in healthcare
1 October 2024
At a glance
> Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are one of the biggest causes of sickness absence in healthcare, particularly the NHS.
> The VELA Bariatric+ is a new patient chair that has been deliberately designed to reduce the risk of lower back pain, sprained wrists, and shoulder injuries in staff.
> With a seating load of up to 300 kg and an electric lift to help patients sit and stand on their own, it encourages patient mobility and independence.
The challenges of bariatric patient care
Bariatric patient care presents unique challenges in safe patient handling because of the high weights involved. The VELA Bariatric+ patient chair provides healthcare staff with a robust solution designed to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs), a common cause of sickness absence in the NHS. Common WRMSDs associated with bariatric patient care include lower back pain, sprained wrists, and shoulder injuries. With an electric lift capability and high weight capacity, the chair improves the patient’s comfort while mitigating the risk of injury to staff.
Key Benefits to Healthcare Staff
The VELA Bariatric+ is secure, supportive, and highly manoeuvrable. The chair’s easy-running wheels allow staff to move the patient comfortably or allow the patient to position themselves using their own legs, encouraging mobility and independence. Supporting a maximum weight of 300 kg (660 lbs), patients can comfortably stand up or sit down using the electric lift function, reducing their reliance on holding onto a nurse or porter, and subsequently reducing the risk of a WRMSD occurring.
Not only does the VELA Bariatric+ reduce the physical strain placed on staff, it is also designed for infection control in wards. It is deliberately designed with smooth surfaces and without recesses to stop the accumulation of dirt. Every part of the chair can be cleaned using common disinfectants including alcohol and chlorine for effective sterilisation.
Find out more
You can learn more about the VELA+ Bariatric patient chair by clicking the button below to speak to a product specialist directly.