stannah stair lift

Hi Claire,

It is a very unsatisfactory situation - hard on the lady.

I suspect that the engineers will say they are hamstrung by health & safety - that they cannot fit a new seat until they have been trained, and 'signed-off', in that procedure.

I think, unfortunately, that your client is stuck in a very bad situation - hope they get their act together, and make the repair as soon as possible,

Mike

Thank you are I do as well as it is so hard on them :(.

Hi

It might just be worth trying a more direct approach, by ring Stannah direct and advising them that you client is at risk and that if they are unable to meet their obligations, then you may be forced to go to the papers to see if anyone else has a solution. Its drastic I know but maybe if they think they are going to get negative publicity, especially, given all their statements about improving independence, it might have an effect. Health and Safety after all works two ways, and it is the risk to your client that is the most crucial.

I am in a very difficult position as I have offered to speak to the company but the husband of my client is very proud and will not let me had a word with them!! Have mentioned health as safety to them but still no luck!
Unfortunately this is a private client so I don't have anyone to pass this on to!
Many thanks the your input it is really appreciated.

As you say Claire, a very difficult situation.

Hi Claire,

Please ask your client's spouse to refer to his contract. There will be terms and conditions to cover any such contingency. Rather than escalate this to the 'papers' try googling the Contact email address for the CEO of Stannah in the first instance. I am sure they understand their own Policies of Duty of Care.

Good luck

Suzie Llloyd

Hi Claire,

Please ask your client's spouse to refer to his contract. There will be terms and conditions to cover any such contingency. Rather than escalate this to the 'papers' try googling the Contact email address for the CEO of Stannah in the first instance. I am sure they understand their own Policies of Duty of Care.

Good luck

Suzie Llloyd

I think its really important to check terms and conditions however, this is a poor service. We are supporting people to live their lives as comfortable, pain free and dignified as possible so seeing this happen goes against everything we stand for.
We have come across this with other services where we have to wait to source parts from abroad. This is not right when we are dealing with real people who don't need reminding of their condition, pain and distress. The negative effect this has on emotional wellbeing can have a major impact.

good lock I hope this is sorted soon.

You say there is no way of bringing the bed downstairs but can a temporary bed not be put downstairs in the mean time? It's not ideal but perhaps means that your lady is safer..

I totally agree with this advice, perhaps we should all ask these important questions before buying any mechanical equipment. We should also ask to be directed to where it is in the small print. Should there be a penalty to the manafactures and suppliers for delays and personal distress.

I think it is relevant that Claire stated earlier:

'Unfortunately this is a private client so I don't have anyone to pass this on to!'

If this was happening in a nursing home, for example, I'm sure there would be various reasons why it would be prioritised (for example, worrying about what the Care Quality Commission might make of it, etc). But in your own home, I think this is much more difficult to deal with. As Lindsey said - and with the benefit of hindsight - checking on how quickly such repairs should be done, before you buy the equipment, is really good advice: but, how many of us would think to do that ?

Luckily all sorted now. I mentioned all this to the husband but got no where!! I'm just thrilled it is now sorted :).

Thank you so much for all your input I really appreciated it.
Working privately is certainly very different and I have to be very careful how I approach things. I have to be much more aware of the heath as safety, risk issues and get my voice heard but if your not the sort of person to stamp their ground it is very difficult!!

If this happened in a care home RIDDOR would be contacted and it would be a priority to get it fixed as it is a lifting equipment failure.
Unfortunately being in a private home there are not the same protocols in place.

Great news that it has now been sorted out - one less thing for Claire to worry about, and a much better situation for the lady now that the stair lift is working again.

When there is a stair lift whether in a private home or an establishment and any employee private or company assists people to use it the regulation is LOLER which means it must be serviced on an annual basis and checked by a competent person every six months. RIDDOR is the Reporting or Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations and a stair lift not working does not come under this regulation. The HSE have a lovely document which tells us which piece of equipment comes under PUWER or LOLER and what this means. If a hoist is part of harm to a person not only is it reportable to CQC but also to MHRA under the yellow card system as well as RIDDOR. This is a complicated area for most people to understand but HSE has helped us to understand it.

so glad its all been sorted. Fully understand the issue of having to respect the users wishes, it so often places us between a rock and a really hard place. But glad all now sorted and things are back to relative normality.

Thank you everyone. There is a really grey area in a private client situation as you can advise but not insist on things being done!!
Well mention about 6 monthly checks when i return :).