How can UK hospitals choose bath and hygiene equipment that reduces carer strain?

Choosing the right bath and hygiene equipment can help UK hospitals reduce the physical demands placed on nursing and care staff while supporting safe, dignified patient care. Height-adjustable assisted baths, bath hoists, patient lifting equipment and suitable transfer aids can help reduce awkward postures and unnecessary manual handling when selected for the patient’s needs and the clinical environment.

Bathing and personal hygiene can involve repeated transfers, repositioning and working in confined spaces. Without suitable equipment, staff may need to bend, reach or maintain awkward positions while supporting patients. Reviewing the equipment available in hospital bathrooms can help identify opportunities to reduce these risks, improve workflows and make personal care more comfortable for patients.

Why is carer strain a concern during hospital bathing?

Bathing is a regular care activity, but it can place considerable physical demands on staff, particularly when patients have limited mobility or need substantial assistance.

Common challenges include:

  • Manual handling: Supporting patients during transfers between beds, wheelchairs, shower areas and baths.

  • Awkward working positions: Bending over bath edges or reaching across patients during washing.

  • Repositioning: Helping patients change position when they cannot move independently.

  • Restricted space: Working around fixed baths, hoists, plumbing and other bathroom equipment.

  • Repeated tasks: Performing similar transfers and hygiene procedures across multiple patients during a shift.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identifies bathing and assisting with daily activities as tasks that should be considered within moving and handling risk assessments. Employers must assess risks that cannot reasonably be avoided and introduce measures to reduce them.

Choosing appropriate equipment is one part of this process, alongside staff training, suitable staffing arrangements and individual patient assessments.

Which bath and hygiene equipment can help reduce carer strain?

Different equipment addresses different challenges. Hospitals should consider the patients they support, the transfers involved and the physical layout of each bathing area.

1. Height-adjustable assisted baths

Height-adjustable assisted baths allow the bath height to be changed to suit the care task and working position of staff. This can help reduce the need to bend over a fixed-height bath during bathing and personal care.

Depending on the model, assisted baths may include powered height adjustment, integrated lifting features and other options designed to support patient access and comfort.

When selecting an assisted bath, hospitals should consider:

  • Working height: Can staff adjust the bath to a suitable height for different tasks?

  • Patient access: Can the patient be transferred into the bath using the planned method?

  • Transfer equipment: Is the bath compatible with the hoist or stretcher hoist required?

  • Bathroom layout: Is there enough room for staff, equipment and patient transfers?

  • Cleaning and maintenance: Can the bath be cleaned effectively and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions?

The NHS Health Building Note for sanitary spaces highlights the importance of planning assisted-bath dimensions, access space and associated lifting equipment early in a project.

2. Bath hoists and patient lifting equipment

Bath hoists and other suitable patient lifting equipment can help staff transfer patients who cannot safely get into or out of a bath independently.

Depending on the patient's needs and the bathroom configuration, a hospital may consider an integrated bath lift, a compatible mobile hoist or another assessed lifting solution.

These systems can reduce the need for staff to physically support a patient's weight during transfers. However, the appropriate solution depends on the patient's mobility, the transfer method, available space and compatibility with the bath and sling.

Before choosing a system, hospitals should check:

  • The patient's weight-bearing ability and level of support required.

  • The suitability of the sling and lifting attachments.

  • Whether the equipment is compatible with the bath and intended transfer.

  • The space available for safe positioning and operation.

  • The training required for staff who will use the equipment.

A bath hoist should be selected as part of an overall moving and handling plan, rather than as a standalone purchase.

3. Shower trolleys and height-adjustable shower tables

For patients who cannot safely stand or transfer onto a conventional shower seat, a suitable shower trolley or height-adjustable shower table may support washing while the patient is lying down.

Height adjustment can help staff work at a more appropriate level when providing hygiene care, while the trolley's design can support patient positioning and movement within the clinical environment.

Hospitals should consider the patient's clinical condition, pressure-area management needs, weight capacity, drainage, cleaning requirements and the method used to transfer them onto the equipment.

The bathroom must also provide adequate space to manoeuvre the trolley safely. The equipment should be chosen following an assessment of the full care process, including transfers to and from the bed.

4. Mobile hoists and transfer aids

A suitable mobile hoist can support transfers between beds, wheelchairs, bathing equipment and other care surfaces where the patient's assessment specifies hoisted transfers.

Other transfer aids, such as slide sheets and transfer boards, may be appropriate for particular movements when used in accordance with the patient's handling plan.

The aim is to match the equipment to the task. For example, the equipment required to transfer a patient into a bath may differ from that needed to reposition them on a shower trolley.

Hospitals should also assess whether equipment can be moved through doorways, around furniture and between clinical areas without creating additional handling risks.

How should hospitals assess their bath and hygiene equipment needs?

A successful equipment review looks beyond the product itself. Hospitals should assess the patients, tasks, staff and environment together.

Assessment Area What to consider
Patient Needs Mobility, weight-bearing ability, body size, clinical condition and postural support
Staff ergonomics Bending, reaching, lifting, repositioning and sustained working positions
Bathroom layout Access space, doorways, turning areas, plumbing and equipment storage
Transfer process How patients enter and leave the bathing area and how many transfers are involved
Hygiene and infection prevention Cleaning access, compatible materials and local infection prevention procedures
Equipment compatibility Hoists, slings, attachments and bathing equipment must be suitable for the intended combination
Maintenance Servicing, inspections, fault reporting and equipment availability
Staff Training Competence in the specific equipment and the relevant patient handling procedures

HSE guidance recommends considering both general risks within a care environment and individual moving and handling needs. Assessments should be reviewed when circumstances change.

How can better bathroom design improve staff working conditions?

Even suitable equipment may not reduce strain effectively if the bathroom is poorly laid out. Hospitals should consider how staff and patients move through the entire bathing process.

Allow enough space for transfers

Bathrooms need sufficient clearance for the selected hoist, bath or shower trolley, staff and patient. Equipment that cannot be positioned correctly may lead to awkward manoeuvres or make transfers more difficult.

For new builds and refurbishment projects, involve relevant clinical, estates, infection prevention and moving and handling teams early. Manufacturer guidance should inform the detailed space and service requirements for the selected equipment.

Make height adjustment practical

Where equipment offers powered height adjustment, staff should be able to use it effectively during care. Controls, access and adjustment ranges should suit the intended tasks and the staff who will operate the equipment.

Plan storage and equipment access

Hoists, slings and other transfer aids should be available when required and stored in a way that does not obstruct circulation routes or create additional manual handling difficulties.

Consider cleaning and turnaround

Equipment needs to be cleaned and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the hospital's infection prevention procedures. Easy access to relevant surfaces and components can support routine cleaning and reduce avoidable delays between uses.

How can hospitals maintain equipment safety and availability?

Buying appropriate equipment is only the first step. Hospitals also need systems to keep it safe, functional and available for patient care.

  • Planned preventive maintenance: Arrange servicing according to the manufacturer's instructions and applicable requirements.

  • Pre-use checks: Ensure staff know how to identify damage, faults or missing components and report them.

  • Thorough examinations: Where LOLER applies, ensure lifting equipment is examined at the required intervals by a competent person.

  • Staff training: Provide equipment-specific instruction and competency checks.

  • Clear records: Keep appropriate maintenance, examination and fault-reporting records.

  • Review equipment provision: Identify recurring faults, bottlenecks and gaps in the equipment available.

Under LOLER, lifting equipment used to lift people generally requires thorough examination at least every six months, unless a valid written examination scheme specifies otherwise. Other equipment requirements depend on the type of equipment and how it is used.

When should a hospital review its bathing equipment?

A review may be worthwhile when:

  • Staff regularly report discomfort or difficulty during bathing and transfers.

  • Existing baths require staff to work in awkward positions.

  • Patients' mobility or clinical needs have changed.

  • Hoists or transfer equipment are difficult to manoeuvre in the available space.

  • Equipment breakdowns disrupt hygiene routines.

  • A ward is being refurbished or a new bathing area is being designed.

  • Maintenance records identify recurring faults or increasing repair requirements.

A structured review can help estates, procurement and clinical teams identify which changes are most likely to address the risks within their setting.

Height-adjustable assisted baths, compatible bath hoists, shower trolleys and suitable patient transfer equipment may help reduce awkward postures and physical handling demands. The right combination depends on the patients, tasks and bathroom layout.

A height-adjustable bath allows staff to adapt the working height to the task, which may help reduce bending. Whether it is appropriate depends on patient access, transfer arrangements, available space and the hospital's clinical requirements.

No. They can reduce some physical handling demands, but risks remain around sling application, positioning, attachments and transfers. Staff still need appropriate assessments, equipment-specific training and safe working procedures.

Consider patient requirements, working height, access and transfer space, hoist compatibility, plumbing and electrical services, cleaning, maintenance and the manufacturer's installation requirements. NHS healthcare building guidance recommends seeking specialist advice on the specific bath model and associated lifting equipment.

Follow the manufacturer's maintenance instructions and the hospital's equipment management arrangements. Where LOLER applies, lifting equipment used to lift people generally requires thorough examination at least every six months unless a valid written scheme specifies otherwise. Servicing and thorough examination are separate activities.

How Medaco can support your hospital

Medaco supplies moving and handling equipment and provides installation, servicing and maintenance support for healthcare settings.

Whether your hospital is reviewing existing assisted baths, planning a bathroom refurbishment or looking for suitable patient lifting equipment, our team can help you explore options that fit your clinical environment and moving and handling requirements.

Looking to reduce carer strain in your hospital's bathing areas? Speak to Medaco about assisted baths, patient lifting equipment, installation and ongoing servicing.