You may think you'd like to lay in bed all day every day, but bed sores are a likely result if you venture to do so.

Mary Blackmore, Clinical Manager for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) admitted that there are cases of bed sores in some patients at KEMH.

She said the incidences are recorded and while they fall within acceptable industry levels, the hospital's aim is to have zero cases every month.

Not surprisingly, beds can play a major role in reducing the incidence of bed sores. The sore comes about due to pressure (the body weight) on a particular area. As we normally move our weight about on any one area, a constant pressure doesn't usually last long enough to result in a sore.

New mattresses and beds at KEMH are now pressurised so that such that they alleviate the previous problem on constant pressure in one area.

Sixty-six new medical/surgical beds and mattresses are to be distributed throughout patient rooms. That's over a quarter of the total 224 beds at the Paget hospital.

Ms Blackmore was part of a small team that travelled to the US to evaluate which products would be best suited to KEMH. The team decided on the Stryker Secure II beds and two types of mattress the Position Pro and the Symmetric Air.

"The new beds are especially relevant for wound care patients because we can position and move patients in ways that reduce the risk of skin damage," said Ms Blackmore. "In addition, the mattress provides pressure relief for each part of the body and automatically adjusts to individual patient size and weight."

Because the beds feature a low air loss mattress, the force exerted when turning a patient is reduced. This means less risk of pressure ulcers for patients. It also reduces the risk of injury for hospital staff as they lift patients.

And the cost of one of these mattresses? One Symmetric Air mattress cost about $1,200 while a Position Pro cost about $5,500. Ms Blackmore said many hospitals in North America do not own the more expensive mattress and rent them as needed.

In Bermuda renting is not an option and so KEMH made the investment.

Only 24 of the Position Pro mattresses were purchased by the hospital and Ms Blackmore explained that they would be reserved for patients who require them.

"Patients at risk of pressure ulcers will be given a priority, this could include patients who are elderly, frail and immobile, who may have limited movement due to stroke or pain, poor nutrition, or surgical patients who are immobile and are under nil by oral instruction," she said.

The electromechanical platform of the bed has control features that are user-friendly and can be manipulated to facilitate multiple positioning for patient comfort and satisfaction.

"Medical Beds have become the essence of creative engineering and encourage appropriate posture to aid in convenient clinical outcomes and recovery," said Wayne Watson, Manager of the Biomedical Engineering.

"In addition, these beds are engineered with the caregiver in mind. Studies indicate the problem of lifting patients is compounded by the increased number of patients who are overweight.

"Bermuda Hospitals Board actively engages in manual handling initiatives and invests in safe devices for the purpose of lifting patients. As a result of the bed's new height control variations, patients can be transported with minimal effort and safely manipulated from a sitting posture to a standing position."

The beds also have a built-in scale.

According to Ms Blackmore this means patients can be weighed more accurately and with less interrupted to their needed rest.

Granville Russell, Clinical Director of Medical /Surgical Services said the new medical beds are essential to quality patient care. "As part of our overall hospital renovation plan, we are upgrading equipment to assure comfort and safety for patients," he said.

"Feedback from both patients and staff confirm the new beds are very comfortable and easy to use,' he added. "Our priority is providing safe patient-centered care and we are pleased this new equipment contributes to optimal therapeutic results."

The new beds will replace some of those in Agape House, and some on Cooper, Gordon, Curtis and Perry wards.