The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust bought seven pedestrian-operated electric tugs from electric tug specialist, MasterMover, to improve porter efficiency and reduce manual handling.
The tugs, part of MasterMover’s SmartMover range, will be used to transport logistics cages in the loading and store areas of the Trust’s two Exeter hospital sites. A combination of a hydraulic coupling point, which creates an unbreakable connection to the load, and a leveraged weight-transfer system complemented by two drive motors, allow a single staff member to move loads of up to 1,200kg. MasterMover’s electric tugs are designed to minimise the need for manual handling, which improves the efficiency of handling processes while reducing the risk of injury.
“There is growing pressure on NHS hospitals to deliver high quality service to a growing and ageing population, while keeping in line with tightening budgets and staff cuts,” explained Andy Owen, MasterMover’s MD. “This often leads to patient-facing staff carrying out logistics and handling tasks, creating health and safety risks. Healthcare managers can address this by finding more efficient ways of handling loads, such as by using electric tugs. MasterMover’s SM100+ tug, for example, allows porters to move cages around at their typical walking speed without risk of injury. They can also join multiple cages together for further efficiency.
“By improving efficiency, healthcare facility managers can minimise the costs associated with handling tasks. This goes beyond the litigation costs saved by reducing the number of injuries, as it frees up more staff time to complete more valuable tasks.”
