An overnight bedrail audit in UK hospitals exploring the relationships between environmental factors and patient characteristics
Abstract
The use of bedrails in English and Welsh acute care hospitals has been recently estimated at around 25% of patients. The NPSA state that bedrails are only to be used to prevent the patient from accidently rolling or slipping out of the bed and are not effective when used as a tool to restrict the autonomous movement of patients. The literature suggests that bedrails can be useful to some patients, especially those who have no independent mobility and are at risk of accidentally falling from their bed. However, some research has advised that they should not be used with cognitively impaired patients who may view bedrails as a barrier and attempt to climb over them.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Occupational Health and Safety Research
Quality and Safety in Healthcare
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Healthcare Systems Ergonomics and Patient Safety 2011
- Publisher
- CRC Press
- Pages
- 363–363
- Publication date
- 6 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter