Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Victor Mobile Hoist - Price Reduction

The Victor Mobile Hoist is now priced at £3250 on the Dolphin Lifts website, a saving of £225. Delivery and demonstration from £75.

Overhead Bariatric Hoists

Bariatric hoists ensure safe and dignified transfers for nonambulatory bariatric patients. The hoists are available with an overhead gantry system or with a ceiling fixed track. Structural re-inforcement may be required if fixing to the ceiling.




The Voyager 800 has a lifting capacity of 360kg (57st) and the BHM V10 has a lifting capacity of 450kg (72st). Please contact Dolphin Lifts on 0800 9800 126 for more details.

Need to know which type of hoist is right for you? - Disabled Patient Hoists Explained 

Bariatric Mobile Hoists Video

Click for more information on Bariatric Hoists.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Newport man died after being trapped in hoist - inquest

11:20am Tuesday 1st December 2009
By Jessica Best 

GWENT’S coroner has asked Newport city council to review mechanical hoists it installs in disabled people's homes following the death of a paraplegic man who became trapped while trying to move on to his bed.

Newport coroner’s court heard yesterday how Michael Powell, 53, died at his Newport home in January last year after becoming entangled in a mechanical ceiling hoist.

But Gwent coroner David Bowen said Mr Powell, who lived alone, could have been saved if he had had an emergency panic button to summon help.

Mr Powell, of Pontfaen Road, Newport, lost the use of his legs in a speedway accident in 1975. In 2000 he had ceiling hoists installed in his bedroom and bathroom organised by Monwell Hankinson - a department of Newport city council which provides support for disabled people.

Mechanical engineer Jamie Davies told the coroner and a jury the hoists were not designed to be used without the help of a carer, and although Mr Powell was living with his wife when they were installed, he continued using the hoists alone after the couple divorced in 2002.

On January 21 2008, Mr Powell was using the hoist to move from his wheelchair to his bed when the hand held control panel fell off the cord attaching it to the mechanical lift.

Mr Powell could no longer move the hoist, and ergonomics expert Jeremy Ferreira said it was likely that, in an effort to reach the detached control panel, Mr Powell had “inverted” himself in his seat and become trapped.

A post mortem showed Mr Powell died as a result of positional asphyxia and alcohol intoxication, and tests showed he had a blood alcohol level of 212 per cent - more than two and a half times the drink drive limit of 80 per cent.
Pathologist Dr Ian Thompson said this high level of alcohol could have contributed to Mr Powell’s breathing problems.

After the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, Mr Bowen said he would be writing to Newport city council urging them to carry out an immediate assessment of all disabled people using hoists without carers' assistance, stressing anyone using the hoists alone should be given emergency call buttons.

A spokesman for Newport city council said a review was already under way for disabled people living alone who used hoists, and would await any further recommendations from the coroner.
© Copyright 2001-2009 Newsquest Media Group

Manual Handling

The nursingtimes.net website have produced the following useful articles relating to manual handling.


Manual Handling Part 1 - Assisted Standing

Manual Handling Part 2 - Repositioning a supine patient using a slide sheet

Manual handling Part 3 - Sliding a patient

Manual handling Part 4 - using a sling hoist

Dolphin Mobility supply an extensive range of manual handling hoists for more information and product details please call 0800 9800 126.

Prism Medical double mobility deal - July 2009

From the Birmingham Post on July 15th 2009

The corporate division of Birmingham law firm Martineau has acted for a Canadian medical firm in the acquisition of two domestic mobility companies.
Prism Medical successfully acquired Test Valley Mobility and Saluss, with the deals representing a total investment of more than £2 million into the UK economy.

It also gives the Ontario firm the number-one position in the UK patient handling equipment market, significantly boosting its dealership network.

The patient handling equipment market, which includes devices such as hoists, lifts and door openers, is a growth market in the UK, supported by a significant demographic shift towards an ageing population and increased Government funding in this sector.

Stuart Meldrum, the Prism UK chief executive, said: “We have a strong presence in the UK with existing operations but the acquisition of Test Valley Mobility and Saluss gives us a significant lead in terms of our ability to fulfil and service NHS contracts and national care home groups.

Click here for the full article

Prism acquire moving and handling equipment firm

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2009/01/c6789.html

TORONTO, Dec. 1 /CNW/ - PRISM MEDICAL LTD. (TSX-V:PM) ("Prism") today announced that it has completed the acquisition of a UK distributor of moving and handling equipment and services for the mobility impaired effective Dec 1, 2009. The acquisition cost was $1.2m which was satisfied by a cash payment of $0.7m and deferred payments in the amount $0.5m. The deferred payments are repayable over 3 years together with interest at 7% over a term of 3 years.

The company supplies, installs, services and maintains a wide variety of equipment including ceiling lifts, floor lifts, stair lifts and through floor lifts into the home care and long term care channels.

The key management of the distributor have entered into employment contracts and will continue to be responsible for the day to day operations.

Andrew A. McIntyre, Chairman and CEO of Prism stated, "The acquisition continues our expansion into the provision of product and services for our customers in the UK. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings in the coming fiscal year and will increase our ability to provide high levels of customer service in the UK and strengthen Prism's ability to execute its strategic plans."

Forward-looking Information

Certain statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

For further information: William G. Edwards, Chief Financial Officer, Prism Medical Ltd., Tel: (416) 260-2145 (Ext. 230), wgedwards@prismmedicalltd.com