Worcestershire Royal Hospital is the main acute hospital for the county, run by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Opened in 2002, it provides specialist services for the whole of Worcestershire, including stroke care and cardiac stenting, from its site on Charles Hastings Way.
Within the hospital, the Acute Stroke Unit supports patients in the critical early days and weeks following a stroke, when seating plays a vital role in pressure care, postural support, and helping patients sit out safely as part of their rehabilitation.
Like many busy acute units, the ward team at Worcestershire Royal Hospital had to balance the clinical demands of a complex patient group with the practical realities of ageing equipment and stretched resources, a challenge familiar to NHS Trusts up and down the country.
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What healthcare challenges did Worcestershire Royal Hospital face?
The Acute Stroke Unit had reached the point where several of its existing chairs needed to be condemned, leaving the ward without enough suitable seating to sit out patients on a day-to-day basis.
Getting patients safely out of bed and into supportive, correctly positioned seating as early as possible is a recognised part of stroke rehabilitation, helping to reduce complications and supporting recovery. Without enough chairs that could be relied on, the team needed a long-term replacement that could meet the postural and pressure care needs of a wide range of stroke patients.
How did we help them overcome these challenges?
Sanjula Dhungana, the Ward Manager on the Acute Stroke Unit along with the unit’s Stroke Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy team, got in touch with us to find a solution. We arranged a demonstration of our Lento Care Chair, a tilt-in-space care chair designed for patients who need additional postural support and are often hoisted.
Lento Care Chair
The demonstration allowed the clinical team, including the Stroke Physiotherapists and Neurology OTs, to see firsthand how the chair’s tilt-in-space function, adjustable leg rest, and toolless sizing adjustments could support a stroke caseload where every patient’s postural needs are different.
Following the demonstration, we put together a proposal for the unit, recommending a mix of manual and custom-configured Lento Tilt-in-Space Care Chairs, along with pressure-relieving accessories to suit the ward’s patient group.
How did this impact overall levels of patient care?
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust approved the purchase of four Lento Tilt-in-Space Care Chairs for the Acute Stroke Unit, configured with high-pressure gel cushions, support wedges, and an adjustable headrest to provide tailored postural support for patients recovering from strokes. The Trust also took out a three-year Gold service contract, ensuring the chairs are kept in safe, reliable working order for years to come.
By replacing condemned chairs with purpose-built, adjustable care chairs, the ward is now able to sit out more patients safely on a daily basis, supporting earlier mobilisation and more consistent pressure care across the unit, both important factors in stroke recovery and overall patient wellbeing.
What impressed Worcester Royal most in their dealings with us?
Sanjula, the Ward Manager on the Stroke Unit was impressed with the speed and responsiveness she received from our customer service team, saying “I would like to give feedback about how your team was so good at constantly chasing and updating us regularly throughout the process – thank you!”
How this project supports the NHS
This project is another example of the way we help NHS organisations to achieve their goals:
Supporting stroke rehabilitation: safe, supportive seating allows stroke patients to sit out earlier and more often, a key part of recovery, while reducing the risk of pressure-related complications.
Replacing ageing equipment with a lasting solution: moving away from condemned chairs to a fleet of adjustable, modular care chairs gives the ward a reliable asset built to support a wide range of patients for years to come.
Tailored to a complex caseload: the Lento Care Chair’s toolless adjustment, interchangeable accessories, and tilt-in-space function mean the same chair can be configured to suit each patient’s individual postural and pressure care needs.
Trusted by clinicians: as a key supplier to the NHS and trusted by over 19,000 clinicians, we bring both product expertise and a deep understanding of what NHS wards need.
Interested in how Vivid Care can support your ward or trust?
Visit vivid.care/nhs or call us on 01423 799 960.
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