IRIC Safety Bulletin – ISB2602

Portering chairs are widely used to transport patients throughout healthcare facilities. They depend on both correct operation and effective maintenance to remain safe. IRIC is aware of two recent adverse incidents involving hospital portering chairs. Both incidents involved footplate lock failure. One of the incidents resulted in serious injury (a dislocation) to a vulnerable patient. It happened when the footplate swung away unexpectedly while their foot was still resting on it. Learning from incident investigation is shared and recommendations made to prevent recurrence.