Buying hospital beds and ward furniture for a teaching hospital

Teaching beds by department

These are minimum teaching beds from UG-MSR 2023, which also expects an average bed occupancy of at least 80% a year. Where 100 or more beds are dedicated to General Surgery, at least 10% are to be for Paediatric Surgery.

What every ward must have

• At least 1.5 m between two beds in a general ward.
• A nursing station placed so the nurse can see all the patients in the ward.
• An examination and treatment room, a pantry, and a store room for linen and equipment.
• A duty room for resident doctors and students, and a clinical demonstration area.
• A High Dependency Unit (HDU).

UG-MSR 2023 also asks for an ICU, an intensive coronary care unit, an intensive respiratory care unit, paediatric and neonatal ICUs, a critical care burns unit, a post-operative surgical critical care unit and an obstetric HDU/ICU.

Choosing the type of bed

NMC does not prescribe a bed model. Hospitals usually mix these types:

• Plain ward beds for general and convalescent patients.
• Two-function beds (backrest and knee rest) for most general wards.
• Three-function or Fowler beds, which also change height, for surgical, orthopaedic and dependent patients.
• ICU beds, manual or motorised, usually with side rails, an air mattress and positions such as Trendelenburg.
• Paediatric beds and cots with high side rails for children.

What usually goes with each bed

Most hospitals order these with every bed, and plan screens and stands per ward:

• A hospital mattress with a waterproof, wipe-clean cover
• A bedside locker and a bedside chair or stool
• Bedside screens or curtain stands for privacy
• IV stands, over-bed tables and bed pan stands
• For the ward: a nursing station counter, crash cart, dressing and medicine trolleys, and stretchers or wheelchairs

What to ask a supplier

These are practical points to compare quotations, not NMC rules:

• Frame: material and tube size, and the finish (for example, epoxy powder coating) for regular cleaning.
• Top and mechanism: perforated or strip top, how the backrest and knee rest are moved, and whether the mechanism is enclosed.
• Safety: side rails, castors with brakes and the safe working load.
• Mattress: thickness, foam type and cover material.
• After sale: warranty, spare parts, delivery and installation, and who to call for repairs.

Ask every supplier to quote on the same list and specifications, so prices compare line by line.

Get it quoted

Open the wards and ICU and HDU item lists or the hospital furniture range, with photos and typical specifications. Add your bed numbers in the list builder, and we quote item by item with GST, to the specification you require.