A Hospital Bed includes any device that may be used to permit a PATIENT to lie down when the need to do so is as a consequence of the PATIENT's condition rather than the need for active intervention such as examination, diagnostic investigation, manipulation/treatment, or transport. Cots should be included in statistics about Hospital Beds where appropriate.
It should be noted that:
- A couch or trolley should be considered as a Hospital Bed provided it is used regularly to permit a PATIENT to lie down rather than for merely examination or transport. An example of such an arrangement is a day surgery ward furnished with trolleys
- A PATIENT may need to use a Hospital Bed, couch or trolley whilst attending for a specific short procedure taking an hour or less, such as an endoscopy. If such devices are being used only because of the active intervention and not because of the PATIENT's condition, they should NOT be counted as Hospital Beds for statistical purposes
- A PATIENT needing a lengthy procedure such as renal dialysis may use a Hospital Bed or other means of support such as a couch or special chair. Whatever the device used it should be counted as a Hospital Bed if used regularly for this purpose
- Some procedures require narcosis. If this necessitates the PATIENT to lie down, the Hospital Bed, couch or trolley can be counted as a Hospital Bed if used regularly for this purpose
- A device specifically and solely for the purpose of delivery should not be counted as a Hospital Bed if another device is normally reserved for antenatal and postnatal care. Details of the facilities available for delivery in a maternity ward should be included in a WARD inventory.
This supporting information is also known by these names:
| Context | Alias |
|---|---|
| plural | Hospital Beds |