hello
our daughter has Severe Uncontrolled Epilepsy with status Myclonic Jerks
and severe learning Disabilities she is now 12
we have had a bed guard now for over 8 years but is now Broke so we were told to contact O.T. so they came and said to us they would get us a special bed guard hand and rails for the bathroom we were very pleased that they could supply us with these items
Then we had a little shock!
They wrote back to say it would be a DANGER to supply a bed guard as our daughter may get trapped in it and yet we have had a bed guard for over 8 years
Nothing was ever said about that bed guard so why now?
So we have now said we will buy the bed guard our selves
But why should we !
When the equipment is all to well available for all those who need it
We seem to have to BEG for everything these days
Anyone else have the same problems
take care roger

hello all
our daughter has Severe Uncontrolled Epilepsy with status Myclonic Jerks
and severe learning Disabilities she is now 12
we have had a bed guard now for over 8 years but is now Broke so we were told to contact O.T. so they came and said to us they would get us a special bed guard hand and rails for the bathroom we were very pleased that they could supply us with these items
Then we had a little shock!
They wrote back to say it would be a DANGER to supply a bed guard as our daughter may get trapped in it and yet we have had a bed guard for over 8 years
Nothing was ever said about that bed guard so why now?
So we have now said we will buy the bed guard our selves
But why should we !
When the equipment is all to well available for all those who need it
We seem to have to BEG for everything these days
Anyone else have the same problems
take care roger

What was their alternative suggestion to the bedguard? Did they feel an enclosed type bed was a safer option?

hello lousie
they came back to us and said why don`t we put the mattress on the floor!!!!!
we said that means we will have to BEND DOWN which i have a problem with my back so i would no way be able to carry her let alone bend down with our child
we are now Appealing against they decision to grant us a bed guard
also we since spoken to a nurse
Who as said when a child goes into hospital they put up the metal guards which are around the beds in all hospitals ?

bye roger

Why should you have to put yourself out like that O_o, i know you would because she is your daughter.

Metal cotsides are now supposed to be used with covers, definitely with people who are at increased risk of getting trapped (invol. movement, epilepsy, dementia, confusion etc)

Roger, This is a problem I have come across before but there are alternatives. There have been some accidents involving children becoming trapped in bed guards designed for adults. There is a bedguard called Safesides that is inflatable so there is no risk of entrapment.
I think the letter is a bit of a cop out. There are also other cot sides on the market. I would ask the OT to reassess. Perhaps you could ask for a risk assessment comparing the risk of using the bed side with the risk to your daughter using the bed without it.

Hi Roger

Last time my little boy was in hospital, in an adult bed with standard bed guards, the nurses had some covers that slipped over the top to reduce the risk of entrapment. Would this be a possiblity?

Dom

Roger, Seeing Dom's message has reminded me that as well as bed guard covers like the ones they use in hospital you can get foam guards that velcro on. There is also a bed guard that has mesh - a bit like the toddler bed guards only bigger.