Having the right kind of furniture can make a huge difference to the people who work, visit and receive care at hospitals. 

Around the world, it is estimated that 421 million hospitalisations (of one or more overnight stays) occur every year and approximately 300 million surgical procedures are performed. The NHS alone handles 100 million hospital visits each year in the UK.

According to World Health Organisation data, it is estimated that 1 in 300 people are harmed while receiving healthcare. Providing staff and patients with safe, high-quality equipment can mitigate some of these risks. 

What types of furniture do hospitals need?

Furniture is one of the pieces of hospital equipment that is often hidden in plain sight. Unlike MRI machines, monitoring devices and AEDs, we don’t often think about how a desk, chair or bed can be medical equipment. 

Some of the items you might find in a hospital include: 

• Adjustable beds

• Examination tables

• Trolleys and storage cabinets 

• Workstations and chairs

• Bedside cabinets and overbed tables

• Chairs and tables for waiting areas, canteens and staff break rooms

What safety features should hospital furniture include?

Non-porous surfaces

Keeping infections and viruses at bay requires regular cleaning of hospital equipment to halt the spread and further contamination. Non-porous surfaces are more sanitary as the microbes and dirt have fewer places to hide. 

Hard surfaces can also be treated with antimicrobial materials and products to kill bacteria on contact. Removable headboards and cushions can also help improve hygiene standards.

No sharp edges 

Rounded corners and bevelled edges can help prevent injuries. Ensuring sufficient padding on equipment can prevent accidental contact with hard surfaces. 

Adjustable height

Having adjustable, motorised beds and chairs for patients can help prevent injury for both the user and staff, helping them move about. 

Moveable rails

Safety rails on the side of beds can stop patients from falling out, but they should also be able to fold down or retract to allow access and for transferring the patient. 

Locking wheels

For moving wheeled beds, trolleys and cabinets, having a locking mechanism built in can prevent accidents and injuries. 

Bariatric and pediatric equipment

Furniture should be the right size for patient use. Beds and chairs designed to carry or hold obese patients and furniture for children and infants may be needed.

Compliance with safety standards

For motorised furniture, for example, adjustable beds, electronics should be compliant with the country’s safety standards where it is in use. These include fire-retardant materials used on soft furnishings such as mattresses and chair cushions. 

In the UK, safety standards for medical furniture fall under various regulations, including Medical Device Regulations (2002) and Work Equipment Regulations. 

Why is durability important for hospital furniture?

Hospitals around the world have millions of service users every year who need quality care. Add to that the medical staff, support staff and the visitors who come to support patients, and it becomes obvious that hospitals are high-traffic areas.

Failure of equipment, such as beds, can mean reducing the capacity of the hospital to care for those service users. Therefore, furniture that can withstand almost constant use is a necessity. 

Furniture breaking through use can also cause accidents and injury, which is not only bad for the people involved but can put the hospital at risk of liability. 

Beds, tables and other furniture also need to be economically viable for the hospital’s administrators, so increased longevity will give a better return on investment. 

What features can help with patient and staff comfort?

Ergonomic features

Handles for lifting and moving equipment easily, and adjustable settings can prevent strains and injuries for healthcare staff. 

Easy to manoeuvre

All equipment should be easy to move by one or more staff members without injury; it needs to be lightweight but strong enough to be functional. 

Padding 

Pressure sores and musculoskeletal issues can be problems when patients are bed-bound for a long period. Having mattresses made of pressure-relieving foam can make the patient more comfortable. 

Padded chairs can also help reduce pain after surgery.