Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has invested teh seven figure sum to replace every inpatient bed at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and Royal Preston Hospital with new electric beds.

It is part of a major investment programme in new patient equipment to improve comfort, safety and cleanliness.

The state-of-the-art beds are electronically adjustable by remote control and provide patients with more independence and ensure patients can move or change their position in the bed.

This is very important for immobile patients as this helps to reduce the risk of patients developing bedsores. The adjustable height of the beds makes it easier to transfer patients and reduces the risk of back injuries to staff.

A total of 800 beds will be installed at the Trust during March 2008 and staff are advising patients and visitors that there may be some disruption to afternoon visiting times while the replacement programme is undertaken.