Medical beds and high dependency beds

Medical and high dependency beds are a special type of bed found in hospitals, care centres and occasionally in the home. They are used for the treatment and care of patients who are largely unable to move and who are confined to a bed.

Most patients requiring a high dependency bed are bed-bound. All medical and high dependency beds are single occupancy.

Features of a medical bed

Beds of this type have a number of features that differentiate them from regular beds and these features take into account the comfort of the patient and the need for treatments and therapies to be performed whilst the patient is in bed.

Medical beds will have side rails that may be removable or that will slide up and down and they will be on lockable casters to enable them to be moved easily. The height of the mattress will normally be adjustable and this is helpful when it comes to the delivery of therapies or treatments from the bedside.

Most dependency style beds will have adjustable sections for the upper body and legs that enable the top and bottom sections of the bed and mattress to be elevated to varying degrees. In many cases this adjustment will be motorised and controlled by a hand held remote pad.

Adjustable air pockets that allow the varying of pressure and pressure relief are a popular feature within the mattress of a care bed. These inflatable balloon sections make being bed-bound for prolonged periods of time more comfortable, i.e. important changes in how the body is supported (and pressure relieved) can be made at the touch of a button.

Different types of medical bed

There are a number of different high dependency bed classifications (based on manufacturers) and these are summarised below. All bed types can have orthopedic mattresses that use springs, foams or air pockets and special pulmonary mattresses are also available.

Acute medical bed

These beds are normally found in hospitals and are required for patients in need of constant medical care.

Paediatric bed

These are special beds for babies and small children. Some will have the functionality of a dependency or an acute care bed whilst others will be more general in purpose.

Home care bed

These beds are very similar to standard hospital beds. They will offer the same functionality as hospital beds, however they may be lighter and sometimes smaller. There are many different types of home care bed and the facilities that they offer, along with the prices that they command, vary considerably. In some countries, such as the UK, it may be possible to have one of these beds supplied by the NHS or to be given financial assistance in obtaining one.