BED RAIL SAFETY

In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (24 November 2011) (First Session).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I am advised:

The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI), along with partners including Novita Children's Services, provides equipment for people with disability through the Equipment Program. All beds with cot sides that are purchased by the Equipment Program meet Australian Standard AS/NZS 3200.2.38:2007 'Medical electrical equipment—Particular requirements for safety—mechanically operated beds for adult use'.

Whilst Australian Standard AS/NZS 3200.2.38:2007 does not specifically include use by children, DCSI and Novita have done a great deal of work to provide safe rails and beds for children and provide information and training to prescribers to manage the associated risks.

The Equipment Program also provides alternative beds with full-length cot sides and fitted mattresses for people who are at greater risk of entrapment, particularly children.

The Equipment Program and its partners have comprehensive resources and provide ongoing education to clinicians in relation to the prescribing of equipment, in order to manage the risks in the provision of equipment. Novita Children's Services has led the development of many clinical guidelines and screening tools to guide the prescription and use of beds and bedrails. Clinical staff who prescribe equipment must be approved prescribers under the Equipment Program, with additional training for higher risk items.

Community and Home Support SA also has a Safe Sleeping Guideline, which provides information for Disability Services staff to support parents/carers in providing a safe sleeping environment for their child, with the aim of reducing preventable injury and death.

Equipment bulletins and newsletters are circulated regularly to over 600 equipment prescribers in South Australia, with recent bulletins including articles about entrapment. These materials are freely available to government, non-government and not-for-profit agencies.

During 2012, my Department also intends to offer educational opportunities to equipment prescribers from agencies outside of the Department.