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SWEP Bed Communique May 2018

18 May 2018

Dear Prescribers,

Last year SWEP worked with our Clinical Advisors and Rehabilitation Engineer to review the prescription of bedding systems. This was a significant piece of work which aimed to develop tools and resources to assist clinicians to identify the most suitable bed and mattress for a person with a disability regardless of their size, weight or age.

There were several important outcomes to this project;

  1. Changes to the prescription of beds with bedrail guidelines
  2.  Introduction of an assessment tool for bed, mattress and bed equipment
  3. Clinical considerations for bedrails and bed sticks sheet

Prescribers should note that following this review SWEP is unable to fund bed systems where the bed rail height off the uncompressed mattress is greater than 650mm for children and 400mm for adults.

The final guidelines and prescription forms will be released to all prescribers following the completion of our equipment tender (anticipated release in September).

In the interim we have had a lot of interest from prescribers being able to use the Assessment Tool for Bed, Mattress and Bed Equipment (and clinical consideration fact sheets) so we have decided to make these available now for prescribers to use.

The Bed, Mattress and Bed Equipment Assessment is a comprehensive clinical evaluation tool that SWEP strongly recommend all prescribers use when assessing and prescribing beds, mattresses and bed equipment.

Please find the tools available at; https://swep.bhs.org.au/other-relevant-documents.php

This is a new Assessment Tool and new resources for SWEP. We welcome your feedback and comments regarding any suggestions or improvements to Donna Markham, Chief Allied Health Officer at E: swepcaho@bhs.org.au.

If you have any queries in relation to the prescription of bedding systems and the measurements, you can contact Fiona Wakeling E: Fiona.wakeling@bhs.org.au .

Kind regards,

Donna Markham

SWEP Chief Allied Health Officer


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