Sister Leeanne Morgan
Alexandra Ward, Severn Hospice
We had the OSKA Series5 mattress on trial for a period of 3-4 weeks. We had previously trialled lateral tilt equipment but had experienced issues with them. We trialled the mattress on a female patient in her 70s. She had been admitted for end of life care.
The patient had gross oedema and breathing difficulties. Pain and breathlessness were exacerbated by movement. On admission the patient presented with category 1 pressure ulcers to both heels and to her sacrum. The mattress was very easy to set up and required no function settings for the lateral tilt function. This made it very easy for us to use.
Once the lateral tilt was selected, we did not have to think about this function thereafter. The tilt movement it provided was so subtle, the patient was not aware of it even happening nor were the staff who tried it before use. Movement was only visible from the bottom of the bed by those observing.
The cover was waterproof, breathable and easy to clean. Staff who tried the mattress reported it was very comfortable and the patient did indeed seem comfortable too. The patient’s pressure areas were maintained on this mattress, in fact they slightly improved, despite deteriorating health and nutrition. The lateral tilt function meant that the patient only had to be moved for skin inspection and care, thus limiting any discomfort she may have experienced.
I believe that the use of this OSKA Series5 lateral tilt mattress, for this particular patient, maintained a level of comfort and pressure relief not provided by the other mattresses we have used, allowing this lady a peaceful and dignified end to her life.
We plan to replace all our mattresses eventually with the OSKA Series5 lateral tilt mattress. The really handy dual function allows you to decide if you need a lateral tilt function for the patient or not. Over here we had problems, as when it was decided a patient needed lateral tilt due to pain or other symptoms on movement, it would often then be too distressing for the patient to be moved onto a different mattress. And I am sure you will agree we don’t always get enough info to make an informed decision regarding what their needs may be prior to the patient arriving! Feedback from patients has also been excellent. They report the mattress is very comfortable, much more like their mattress at home yet the pressure relief is fantastic, even off lateral tilt. End of life care patients with gross oedema, often see a great improvement in skin integrity, using this mattress. The mattress has a handy switch to turn lateral tilt on or off.
I believe that the use of this OSKA Series5 lateral tilt mattress, for this particular patient, maintained a level of comfort and pressure relief not provided by the other mattresses we have used, allowing this lady a peaceful and dignified end to her life.
Sister Leeanne Morgan, Alexandra Ward, Severn Hospice
