Macclesfield District General Hospital - Electric Cots

Macclesfield District General Children’s Ward has 22 beds, with up to ten under-twos being admitted at any time. At present the ward has ten old fashioned metal cots which are used for all babies from birth up to two years of age and sometimes even older.

The current cots, which have been in use on the Children’s Ward for 25 years, are bare metal with a very institutional feel. Babies are often scared when being placed in the cots because the sides are much higher and they feel much colder than most domestic cots. They also lead to problems for staff and parents because they are very high and cannot be adjusted. Many parents cannot operate the side release meaning they have to ask for staff help or lift the baby over the top. There have been incidents on the ward of staff, parents and babies getting fingers trapped in the cots. 

In an emergency the difficulty of accessing the baby can delay treatment, and when routine care is needed overnight the awkwardness of opening the cot side wakes up babies, parents and other patients nearby. 

We have agreed to provide five replacement cots. The new design is much more child-friendly and brightly coloured. The new cots are ideal for a ward environment because they are fully height-adjustable and much more comfortable as well as complying with all infection control requirements. 

Each cot will cost £1,269.15 and we have agreed to fund five. To replace five cots will cost £6,346.