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Hi Jeremy I reckon the manufacturers are striking a balance. The handset switches must be fairly easy to use but not to the point where the risk of accidental activation is too great. I expect this safety critical consideration constrains handset design. Colin Geggie Clinical Bioengineer, Environmental Control Co-ordinator SMART (South East Mobility and Rehabilitation Technology) Centre Astley Ainslie Hospital 133 Grange Loan Edinburgh EH9 2HL Tel. 0131 537 9423 Fax. 0131 537 9552 ________________________________ From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeremy Linskell Sent: 03 February 2010 15:03 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: bed handsets Apologies in advance for the rant! I have just returned from yet another assessment of a patient/client who isn't ready to accept the need for an environmental controller (fair enough); because they are managing perfectly well at the moment .... except for their bed!!!!!! Whilst it is true that I have used the bed control issue as a means of getting people to be more accepting of their need for support in the past, it is galling that bed/bed control manufacturers continue to make their handsets so difficult to use for absolutely everyone with even minor dexterity issues. Apart from the community independence issues, how many nursing house are lost in hospitals repositioning disabled, frail and elderly patients for the want of a handset with appropriately chosen and profiled switches?? Can someone please answer me the question, 'why in this era of focus on accessibility and user-needs can we not produce/demand a hospital bed that's meets the needs of the occupant as well as the staff!!!' Apologies again Jeremy Jeremy Linskell CEng, CSci, MIPEM Principal Clinical Scientist Electronic Assistive Technology Service Ninewells Hospital NHS Tayside tel: 01382-496286 fax:01382-496322 Editorial Board Member of Journal of Assistive Technologies http://pierprofessional.metapress.com/content/121393 <http://pierprofessional.metapress.com/content/121393> ************************************************************************ ******************************************** This message may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient please inform the sender that you have received the message in error before deleting it. Please do not disclose, copy or distribute information in this e-mail or take any action in reliance on its contents: to do so is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Thank you for your co-operation. NHSmail is the secure email and directory service available for all NHS staff in England and Scotland NHSmail is approved for exchanging patient data and other sensitive information with NHSmail and GSI recipients NHSmail provides an email address for your career in the NHS and can be accessed anywhere For more information and to find out how you can switch, visit www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/nhsmail ************************************************************************ ******************************************** ***************************************************************** The information contained in this message may be confidential or legally privileged and is intended for the addressee only. If you have received this message in error or there are any problems please notify the originator immediately. The unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or alteration of this message is strictly forbidden. *****************************************************************