In this guide, we’ll use our 60+ years of experience to help you select the right products for your healthcare project.   

Grab rails play a significant role in patient and resident mobility. Offering support and independence, they aid in daily tasks such as using the bathroom or moving from one place to another without strain. 

Anti-ligature furniture is another important healthcare furniture addition. Particularly in mental health care facilities and high-risk areas, they are a preventative to patient self-harm. 

Shelving solutions provide organisation and storage for healthcare environments. It’s also crucial that they’re easy to clean and robust enough to withstand high traffic areas, such as a busy hospital. 

Understanding regulations such as the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) and Document M: Access to and Use of Buildings Vol 2 (2010) is essential. These laws ensure accessibility for all and provide guidance on which pieces of furniture are compliant for your healthcare space. 

Importance of the Right Healthcare Furniture 

Going beyond aesthetics, we recommend the selection of healthcare furniture should have a patient-centred approach, which considers their needs whilst also following compliance standards and being functional. They must meet safety and accessibility standards, ensuring a safe environment for patients and staff. Including ergonomically designed furniture supports this, giving patient’s comfort and meeting requirements needed by facilities. A great example of this is BOYCO’s premium grab rails. They have a 44mm ‘swan neck’ rounded arm, made for a natural hold and the counter balanced arm can be operated with a touch of a finger, meaning it can be positioned with ease. This design helps users grip the grab rail better and is especially useful for those with arthritic-type conditions.  

Along with meeting patient needs, healthcare furniture must withstand daily use and rigorous cleaning routines. This is to meet strict health and safety standards, support in providing quality patient care, and reflect the healthcare environment’s commitment to a welcoming and healing space.  

To enhance durability and hygiene, many types of healthcare furniture incorporate materials such as ‘hot dip’ nylon coating. Tough with a seamless finish, it offers superior abrasion resistance protecting against any scratches, scrapes and dents. Ideal for demanding healthcare environments, it also has anti-microbial properties. Protecting against 99% of all known bacteria, it features a ‘not cold to the touch’ smooth finish, following recommendations from Document M: Access to and Use of Buildings Vol 2 (2010).

Grab Rails 

What are Grab Rails?  

A well-known piece of furniture in healthcare settings, grab rails provide support for individuals with limited mobility. Ensuring stability and reducing potential risks such as falls; they are often placed in key areas such as bathrooms and disabled toilets. Vital for promoting independence, they allow patients to move more freely and confidently, especially in areas such as shower spaces and other wet areas with an increased slip risk. Whether transitioning from sitting to standing, grab rails ease strain on patients and assist staff by distributing weight on to them. This facilitates better movement, contributing towards a safer healthcare environment.

What Type of Grab Rails are there?  

Here at BOYCO, our range of grab rails include: 

• Hinged Grab Rails: Versatile and often placed next to toilets, hinged grab rails provide support with changing from a standing to seated position. Compact, they can be folded away which stops any obstructions that could be caused by a fixed grab rail due to the location. This makes it ideal for higher traffic bathrooms such as sports and leisure, or commercial spaces.  

• Shower Grab Rails: Previously mentioned, wet areas such as shower spaces have an increased risk of slips and falls. Shower grab rails provide a safe and secure solution in prevention of this. Due to the ergonomic shape and corner positioning, users have a secure grip on to the rails even when wet. 

• Premium Grab Rails: Sleek and modern, they have additional benefits when compared to standard versions. Along with the previously mentioned ergonomic ‘swan neck’ arm, they also have a 5-point fixing plate with concealed fixings, hub, and pivot points. This gives the grab rail unparalleled durability due to wall support and added safety. Due to the hinges being covered, it prevents fingers from being trapped when the arm is in motion.  

Want to learn more? Discover our full guide to grab rails.  

Anti-Ligature 

What is Anti-Ligature Furniture?  

Anti-ligature furniture helps prevent self-harm and ensure patient safety in high-risk areas, such as psychiatric units. By minimising potential ligature points, healthcare environments can create safer environments for patients. Features, such as sloped surfaces, helps reduce the risk of harm, prioritises safety, and positively contributes towards patients’ well-being. Including anti-ligature furniture also helps hospitals fulfil a duty of care, and staff can focus on therapeutic support due to potential risks being reduced.

What are Examples of Anti-Ligature Furniture?  

The design of anti-ligature furniture involves careful consideration of form and functionality, which usually includes rounded edges and concealed fixings. Such designs prevent the attachment of materials with the intention of self-harm: 

• Anti-Ligature Grab Rails: Offering enhanced safety in their design, anti-ligature grab rails have been specifically designed to support patients. The edges of the grab rails are smooth and curved, and they are mounted closely to the wall to minimise gaps. They also have a 6-point security fixing, which makes them impact-resistant to any incidents of attacks or barricades.  

• Anti-Ligature Coat Hooks: Perfect for helping with organisation, anti-ligature coat hooks are lightweight and safe for high-risk environments. The hook itself has a spring hidden in the anti-tamper casing, only releasing when needed. Any detachable fittings are also lightweight, making them ineffective as weapons which minimises any danger to patients or staff.

Shelving 

Storage Needs in Healthcare 

Healthcare spaces require efficient and organised storage solutions which can handle a high volume of supplies. Shelving systems can provide smooth daily operations by allowing easy access to the required items. Hospital shelving must support a large variety of items. From medical equipment to patient records, each department has unique needs to complete their roles effectively and improve efficiency. Effective shelving in hospitals should minimise clutter, utilise space, and be easy to clean to maintain health and safety requirements.

Types of Healthcare Shelving 

Shelving in healthcare spaces can be utilised to cater to a diverse range of needs: 

• Adjustable Shelving: Versatile, adjustable shelving offers flexibility for seamless reorganisation. BOYCO’s is also wall fixed, giving it secure weight-bearing strength. This is a popular choice in care homes due to its customisation, which is perfect for accommodating items from medical supplies to recreational equipment.  

• Freestanding Shelving: Ideal for larger storage areas, this shelving can come either wall-fixed, floor-fixed or both, meaning it can be placed anywhere in a room. This is a fantastic option for high-traffic hospitals where items are removed and placed back on shelving multiple times a day.  

• Mobile Racking Systems: A compact choice, mobile racking supports efficiency in healthcare environments. Optimising access to items, staff can easily move the shelving to suit their needs, which is critical in areas such as A&E.  

• Fixed Racking: Able to withstand heavy-duty storage, this system has been designed to enable the shelves to be removed. This allows easy cleaning and maintenance, as all parts can be accessed. A great example of this is our project at Royal Oldham Hospital. 

The strategic placement of shelving allows healthcare environments to adapt quickly to ever-changing demands and changes. This supports high-quality patient care. 

In selecting healthcare furniture, it’s essential to prioritise safety, accessibility, and durability. Grab rails, anti-ligature designs, and shelving solutions all contribute to this, which makes them a must-have in medical spaces. They contribute significantly to patient well-being, staff efficiency, and overall operations.  

It’s also important to consider the current and future needs of those who work and use healthcare facilities. Considering ergonomic designs, durability and ease of cleaning allows health and safety standards to be upheld consistently, supporting patient care. 

Collaborate with an experienced FF&E manufacturer. Discover what BOYCO can do for your healthcare projects here.