Three mistakes to avoid when buying healthcare furniture

Buying furniture is a procurement task which takes on even more importance in environments such as hospitals and other healthcare institutions. In many cases, clever buying can come down to “what not to do” – so ensure that you read this blog and take note of some mistakes to avoid when buying healthcare furniture.

1. Not understanding what you have

The best guide to buying new healthcare furniture can be right before your eyes – so don’t ignore it! If you are updating the furniture in a healthcare institution, you should take stock of the existing furniture, and assess its effectiveness. It is time to note what works and what doesn’t, and you can benefit from canvassing staff on their opinions. In general, furniture which is awkward to adjust, or could be replaced with something more convenient, can be on the list of items to replace. If you are specifying a new building from scratch, you could take your pointers from the effectiveness of furniture in other healthcare institutions you have worked with.

2. Assuming that ‘one size fits all’

Because we come in all shapes and sizes, healthcare institutions have a responsibility to cater for a large variety of body types. It follows that the furniture must be up to this task, so it is important that you purchase items which can accommodate high body weights and large frames. You might be tempted to make a saving by opting for something smaller, but the money you save could pale in comparison to the outlay needed to settle a public liability claim, should inadequate furniture lead to an accident.

3. Making price a priority

If you have earmarked furniture as an area of procurement where you might be able to make some savings, you should be wary. Specifying inexpensive furniture should always be done in the knowledge that the items might offer a shorter working life than better quality furniture, and pricier products on the market. For busy healthcare institutions with their eye on the long term, it can pay to invest in furniture items which can stand the test of time.

Buying healthcare furniture – where to find out more

If you’d like to discuss a fitted healthcare furniture project, please get in touch.

As one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of fitted, specialised furniture for hospitals and healthcare facilities, we can design, manufacture and install bespoke furniture to meet your individual project requirements. Our Healthcare furniture range is specified for all types of hospital refurbishment and new development projects, from NHS Trust premises to private hospitals. All our furniture is manufactured at our factory in Broadstairs, Kent, here in the UK. Find out more about our range of healthcare furniture.