Julie Walton, Tissue Viability Specialist Nurse, County Durham & Darlington Foundation Trust Community Services
I have been working with OSKA recently in an attempt to improve the care and quality of life for several of our patients within the community setting.
In all adult cases they are suffering from Category 4 pressure ulcers. Two have Pressure Ulcers to their buttocks and one to the lateral aspect of the foot.
All the patients have been nursed on alternating pressure relieving mattresses. All have lost weight and therefore find the alternating pressure relief mattress uncomfortable and the PUs have deteriorated. Also two of the patients have severely contracted limbs, providing further complications.
I had in the past used a lateral turner underneath an alternating pressure relief mattress with good results. I was prepared to order the same equipment for these three patients, until I was made aware of the OSKA Series5 Lateral Tilt Mattress.
The difference in this product is unique. The lateral tilt pressure relief mattress gently tilts the patient from side to side and back again in a 10-minute cycle. OSKA’s air cells when gently deflating allows the patient to sink slowly and gently into a soft luxurious memory foam mattress, one side at a time. The patient’s body is at all times fully supported and not laid on tubes of air because the memory foam is covering the tubes. Impressive technology.
Also note if the lateral turning mode is not appropriate, with the flick of a switch the bed becomes an alternating pressure relieving mattress, but with the same comfort factor as already discussed.
I have also placed one of these mattresses underneath an 11yr old child on level 1 setting. It means that her mother is not disturbed several times a night to change her child’s position to prevent skin damage, therefore both get a full night’s sleep.
The initial reason for putting the mattress in situ was due to the child’s general deterioration and her skin began to easily mark even with positional changes. The mattress has provided the required pressure relief and improved sleep for both, therefore quality of life for both. Thank you OSKA.
The difference in this product is unique. The lateral tilt pressure relief gently tilts the patient from side to side and back again in a 10-minute cycle…Impressive technology
Julie Walton, Tissue Viability Specialist Nurse, County Durham & Darlington Foundation Trust Community Services
