For hospital decision-makers, this initiative signals more than product satisfaction. It points to measurable operational and financial value.
Originally, the beds were deployed across two general medical wards, the expanded rollout reflects growing confidence in the ook snow beds’ ability to reduce costs, improve patient safety and ease pressure on clinical staff.
For ward 16 and ward 17 at Christchurch Hospital, the beds were introduced as a targeted solution to prevent patients from falling.
“We care for people, predominantly over the age of 65, with acute medical conditions,” explains Jo Goodwin, Charge Nurse Manager of ward 17. Falls prevention is a constant challenge where patients are often frail, confused or recovering from serious illness.
The 22-bed medical wards received four ook snow beds each. “Because of the benefits of the bed, I would welcome some more,” says Margaret Griffiths, Charge Nurse Manager of ward 16. “They’ve certainly proved their worth.”
The ook snow bed helps prevent falls thanks to its ultra-low height (254mm) and adjustable bed-exit sensors that alert staff the moment a patient begins to move. An under-bed night light gently illuminates the surroundings, helping patients orientate themselves if they wake.
“The fact the bed can go low and is linked to sensors means you’re alerted very quickly, rather than systems that alert you when the patient’s already out of bed,” Goodwin says.
Sensor sensitivity can be tailored to individuals. The bed can sound an alarm when a patient begins to sit up rather than waiting until they are fully standing, giving staff critical extra time to respond.
“The alarm system has volume control and sounds different from the call bell system which is really important,” Goodwin says.
This early intervention has significant implications. Falls are one of the most costly and high-risk adverse events in hospitals, often resulting in extended lengths of stay, additional treatment costs and reputational risk.
Tools that help reduce those incidents can deliver substantial long-term value.
Before introducing the ook snow beds, intensive staffing was usually required on wards 16 and 17 to monitor and prevent patient falls.
“A lot of healthcare assistants would either sit as a one-to-one or a two-to-one,” Griffiths says. “So having these beds really aids in that care.”
Those watchers remain necessary in some situations, but the technology now allows staff to step back from continuous bedside supervision when clinically appropriate.
“One of our patients would actually roll out of bed while asleep because she was unaware of her surroundings and depth perception,” Goodwin recalls. “Being able to set an alarm on the bed meant it was much safer for her and we could get there in time to prevent any falls; the bed was definitely one of the factors in removing her close observation. In the first few days of using the bed, we could see the benefit straight away.”
Redeploying healthcare assistants away from constant observation can free up valuable time for other patient care tasks, monitoring and restocking ward supplies.
For hospital leaders facing workforce shortages and rising demand, that flexibility can be a significant operational advantage.
Christchurch Hospital patients report the bed is comfortable and controls are easy to use, allowing them to adjust their positioning without needing to call a nurse for assistance. This not only supports a greater sense of autonomy, but also reduces nurse call volume and frees up staff time. Where needed, those controls (such as bed height) can be locked out to maintain clinical oversight and safety.
In more complex cases, this balance between independence and control becomes even more valuable. “We’ve got one behaviourally challenging patient who hits out when people get too close within his personal space,” Griffiths explains. “But the fact the bed’s low and there’s a sensor and night light means staff monitoring him can actually just sit inside the door rather than at his bedside. So it’s creating safety for both parties.”
Beyond falls prevention, the beds also deliver day-to-day efficiency gains.
Integrated scales allow nurses to weigh patients at the touch of a button while they’re still in bed without causing them any discomfort or distress.
“We do the weighs early in the morning,” Griffiths says. “It’s not particularly easy to be woken up and then manually handled out of bed or hoisted up for a weigh. So it's actually amazing to be able to weigh people so easily.”
The beds sit on four smooth rolling casters with central braking, making them easy to manoeuvre and reducing strain for staff during patient transfers.
“They are really light to move around,” Goodwin says. “If patients need to go off for procedures or x-rays or to radiology, they’re incredibly easy to move. And the edges of the bed are soft and rounded, there’s no sharp points. The staff have really enjoyed working with the beds.”
Nurse controls are integrated into the siderails and footboard, reducing the need to continually move around the bed.
While it is difficult to directly quantify injury prevention, improved ergonomics and easier handling can contribute to safer workplaces over time.
The ook snow bed is designed for a 15-year lifespan and has been thoroughly strength-tested. It combines low-height falls protection with the capabilities of a high-performance acute care bed and is easy to clean, helping maintain the highest standards of infection control.
For hospitals managing tight budgets and ageing infrastructure, investing in durable equipment that reduces operational costs over time can be a strategic decision.
“They are a good product for the price,” Griffiths says. “For what we were getting, it was actually a very good package. When we first had the beds introduced to us, Cubro was very diligent in trying to educate as many people as possible with drop in sessions and that’s been really beneficial. Most staff are confident and comfortable using the bed.”
The beds are now in high demand and anticipation is building for Christchurch Hospital’s new order to arrive.
“We have to hang onto them. We actually had a colleague the other day from another ward come and try to take one and I went ‘no, no, no’,” Griffiths says with a laugh. “Beds are constantly in and out of our ward but these are actually a protected product.”
For Griffiths and Goodwin, the biggest impact is the confidence the beds provide when caring for vulnerable patients.
“It gives you the assurance that you’re helping to minimise the risks to people who are very frail,” Goodwin says. “We can’t eliminate all risks, but we can help minimise them wherever possible.”
For hospital executives evaluating new investments, that combination of risk reduction, staff efficiency and long-term durability is where the real value lies.
Griffiths’ advice to other hospitals considering ook snow beds is simple.
“Just go do it,” she says. “Go get more.”