The Lifeguard 50 from Arjo is a high-specification trolley that has been designed to cope with the rigours and demands of an emergency department.

The PatientFlow from Felgains is a lightweight yet robust patient stretcher designed for transporting patients all day, every day.

Patient transport stretchers are used almost constantly for transporting patients around a hospital, and as such, they need to be lightweight and manouvreable. Along with being lightweight, however, the best patient stretchers will be robustly built to withstand the demands of the busy hospital environment.

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In this article, we cover what to look for when buying patient stretchers for your hospital, and in particular, for patient transport. We’ll go over the key factors to look out for, what you should avoid, and compare some of the most common patient transport stretchers, in view of making your decision easier and quicker.

The Anetic Aid QA3 is compact, lightweight and manoeuvrable, ideal for patient transport to and from theatres and wards.

A versatile height range is key for enabling patients to mobilise safely and allowing staff to operate the stretcher at an optimal position. Some patient stretchers have very low minimum heights, which is excellent for promoting easier mobilisation and reducing the risk of fall-related injury, however, it’s important to also consider the maximum height of a stretcher and whether it caters to the staff that will frequently be using the stretcher.

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Patient stretchers are primarily designed for short-term use by a patient, either to transfer a patient from one area of the hospital to another, or for a surgical procedure. The patient stretchers on the market vary from very basic, transport-only stretchers, to very specific and specialist stretchers for complex surgical procedures.

But first, let’s define what a patient stretcher is and explore some characteristics specific to patient transport stretchers.

We can offer trials and demonstrations of the two Felgains stretchers; the PatientFlow and MultiFlow, so if this is something that you would find beneficial please get in touch, either by calling the team on 01473 741144, or by filling in the form below.

We recommend that you start by identifying the needs of your emergency department team and environment, and any other areas of the hospital where the stretcher will be frequently used. Like any other hospital product, there are better patient stretchers than others, but in the main, the best stretcher for you will depend mostly on your specific requirements.

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By considering and answering these questions, you’ll have a much greater understanding of your requirements, making the decision-making process quicker.

The Howard Wright M9 is a fully electric patient stretcher with a low minimum height to increase patient safety and comfort.

The Acime Skot Power is an electrically-operated emergency and transfer stretcher, designed for reliable and smooth patient transport.

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Which patient stretcher you choose will depend on your specific needs and requirements, so it’s difficult for us to say which stretcher you should choose, but we trust this article has given you a clear picture of the stretchers that are available on the market, and their positives and drawbacks, to make your decision easier.

The Felgains MultiFlow stretcher combines an industry-leading low height of 340mm with dual auto-regression to enable easier mobilisation and reduce the risk of pressure injury from prolonged stretcher stays, ideal for emergency departments and patient transport.

Electricbed partssuppliers

A lot of the best patient stretchers will have the option to add powered drive control. Essentially, this adds a motorised wheel to the stretcher to take the pushing force off your staff. Powered drive control is particularly useful for patient transport stretchers, which are typically pushed over long distances every day.

Stryker’s Prime Series Stretchers are designed to help reduce physical strain on clinicians, enhance patient comfort and help drive hospital efficiency. Transporting heavier patients is made easier with Stryker’s advanced mobility; while electric functionality gives patients the independence to adjust themselves without calling for caregiver assistance.

Despite the target of 95% of ED patients being seen, treated, or discharged within 4 hours, with pressure increasing in hospitals and emergency departments trolley stays of longer than 4 hours are becoming increasingly common. Because of this, it’s important to consider patient stretchers with features such as auto-regression, which promotes patient comfort and pressure relief.

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The best patient stretchers will have a fifth wheel, typically activated at the head or foot end of the stretcher. The fifth wheel acts as a directional wheel, making the stretcher much easier to manoeuvre, particularly around corners and in crowded environments.

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Let’s dive in and look at each stretcher in detail, looking at their positives and weaknesses, and how they stack up against each other.

With so many options for Patient Stretchers on the market, you may find it challenging to select the best patient stretcher that meets the needs of your hospital environment.

Understanding how long patients are likely to be staying on the stretcher will help you in deciding whether to choose a patient stretcher that emphasises pressure relief and comfort and knowing the distance the stretcher is likely to travel each day will help in prioritising whether a lighter stretcher is most suitable for your staff. Whether or not the stretcher will also be used for surgery is a key consideration, as some stretchers are designed primarily for patient transport and would not be ideal for surgical procedures. Knowing whether the procedures will require imaging can help you select patient stretchers that allow for imaging applications such as X-ray. Lastly, consider the ergonomic benefits — whether the patient stretcher is comfortable and safe for your staff to use over long periods.