Pressure ulcer prevention is about more than choosing the right mattress. It requires a coordinated approach involving patient assessment, regular movement, appropriate equipment, staff education and an environment that supports safe, effective care.
Pressure ulcers remain a significant challenge across hospitals, care homes and community healthcare settings. They can cause considerable pain and discomfort, affect quality of life and, in severe cases, lead to serious complications.
While pressure redistribution mattresses play an important role in reducing the risk of pressure damage, they are only one part of an effective prevention strategy.
As Renray Healthcare supports Stop the Pressure Week 2026, we’re exploring how healthcare professionals, patients, carers and equipment providers can work together to create safer care environments.
Drawing on the campaign’s six themes — Physical Moves, Clinical Moves, Team Moves, Environmental Moves, Smart Moves and Patient Moves — we look at why successful pressure ulcer prevention requires a much wider approach.
Understanding Pressure Ulcers and How They Develop
Pressure ulcers, sometimes referred to as pressure sores or bedsores, are areas of localised damage to the skin and underlying tissue. They usually develop over bony prominences, such as the heels, hips, elbows and sacrum, but can also occur beneath medical devices.
They are primarily caused by prolonged pressure or pressure combined with shear forces.
When pressure is sustained over a particular area, blood flow to the affected tissues can be compromised, potentially leading to tissue damage.
Certain individuals are particularly vulnerable, including those who:
Recognising these risk factors early is essential.
Effective pressure ulcer prevention therefore involves regular assessment, appropriate support surfaces, skin care, nutritional considerations and a personalised repositioning plan.
One of the most important elements of pressure ulcer prevention is reducing the amount of time vulnerable areas of the body are exposed to sustained pressure.
For patients with limited mobility, regular repositioning helps redistribute pressure and reduce the risk of tissue damage.
However, the frequency and method of repositioning should always be based on an individual’s clinical assessment, skin condition, comfort and ability to move.
How pressure redistribution mattresses help
Pressure redistribution mattresses are designed to manage the pressure experienced by the body when lying down.
Different technologies achieve this in different ways.
Static foam mattresses use specialist foam structures to distribute body weight across a larger contact area, helping reduce concentrated pressure on vulnerable areas.
Alternating air mattresses use air cells that inflate and deflate in a controlled cycle, periodically changing the areas of the body receiving support.
Specialist bariatric mattresses are designed to accommodate higher body weights and provide appropriate support and pressure redistribution within their specified weight limits.
Innovative Noodles Technology offers another approach to mattress construction and support, providing an alternative option within Renray’s pressure area care range.
The suitability of each mattress depends on the individual’s clinical requirements and the product’s intended use.
Crucially, even an advanced pressure redistribution mattress does not eliminate the need for regular assessment, appropriate repositioning and skin monitoring.
The key message: The right mattress supports pressure management, but movement remains an essential part of prevention.
Not every patient person the same level of pressure care.
A person recovering from a routine procedure may have very different requirements from someone with significantly reduced mobility, existing pressure damage or complex medical needs.
This is why clinical assessment should always guide the selection of pressure redistribution equipment.
Healthcare professionals should consider several factors when choosing a mattress:
Clinical needs can also change during recovery or as an individual’s condition develops.
Regular reassessment helps ensure that the equipment remains appropriate.
Why mattress selection should never be based on risk scores alone
Pressure ulcer risk assessment tools can support clinical decision-making, but they should not replace professional judgement.
A patient’s mobility, skin condition, medical history and wider circumstances must also be considered.
At Renray Healthcare, our pressure area care range includes static foam, alternating air and specialist mattress options, helping healthcare providers access different solutions according to their requirements.
The key message: Effective pressure care starts with the individual, not the mattress specification.
Preventing pressure ulcers requires communication and collaboration between multiple healthcare professionals.
Nurses and care staff may identify early changes in skin condition. Tissue viability specialists can provide expert guidance on prevention and management. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists can support mobility, positioning and appropriate equipment selection.
Procurement and facilities teams also play an important role by helping ensure suitable equipment is available, maintained and replaced when necessary.
The importance of equipment availability
Even the most carefully developed prevention strategy can be undermined if appropriate equipment is unavailable when required.
Healthcare organisations should consider:
Working with a healthcare equipment supplier that understands these requirements can help organisations plan their pressure area care provision more effectively.
As both a manufacturer and distributor, Renray Healthcare works with healthcare providers to supply pressure area care equipment, profiling beds and patient seating, supporting the wider practical requirements of patient care.
The key message: Prevention works best when clinical knowledge, equipment availability and communication come together.
Although the mattress is central to pressure management in bed, the surrounding care environment can also influence patient safety, comfort and independence.
The relationship between mattresses, profiling beds and patient seating is particularly important.
Profiling beds and patient positioning
A profiling bed can support patients and carers by allowing adjustments to different sections of the bed.
Depending on the individual’s requirements, these adjustments may assist with:
However, bed positioning must be considered carefully.
For example, raising the head section of a bed can increase shear forces if a patient slides down the mattress. This is particularly important for individuals at increased risk of pressure damage.
Correct positioning techniques, compatible equipment and clinical assessment remain essential.
Pressure care doesn’t stop when someone leaves the bed
Patients who spend extended periods sitting may also be vulnerable to pressure damage, particularly around the buttocks, sacrum and other weight-bearing areas.
Suitable patient seating can help support posture and positioning, but the chair must be appropriate for the individual’s needs.
Factors to consider include:
Renray’s range of healthcare recliners includes options designed to support different patient seating and positioning requirements.
When selecting seating, healthcare professionals should consider the complete care plan, including time spent sitting, pressure redistribution and the patient’s ability to change position.
The key message: Pressure ulcer prevention should consider the patient’s entire day, not just the time they spend in bed.
Pressure area care technology continues to evolve, offering healthcare professionals a wider choice of equipment for different clinical needs.
Developments in foam design, alternating air systems, mattress construction and specialist seating can help support more individualised care.
However, innovation should always be considered alongside evidence, education and correct product use.
The importance of understanding mattress technology
A mattress can only perform as intended when it is suitable for the patient and used correctly.
For example:
Staff should also understand when equipment needs to be reassessed or escalated to a specialist.
Innovation is about solving problems
At Renray Healthcare, we recognise that innovation should deliver practical benefits for patients and healthcare professionals.
Our pressure area care range includes established foam and alternating air systems alongside alternative technologies such as Noodles Technology.
Providing different options helps healthcare organisations consider solutions that suit their patient population, clinical requirements and care environment.
But equipment alone is not enough.
Training, product knowledge and consistent implementation are essential to achieving the intended benefits.
The key message: The best technology is technology that is appropriately selected, correctly used and supported by knowledgeable staff.
One of the most important aspects of pressure ulcer prevention is helping patients and carers understand their own role in reducing risk.
Where possible, patients should be encouraged to participate in decisions about their care and supported to maintain safe movement and independence.
This may involve helping individuals understand:
For individuals who cannot reposition independently, carers and healthcare professionals play a particularly important role.
Clear communication and education can help patients and families recognise potential problems earlier and understand the reasons behind preventive care.
Supporting independence through equipment
Appropriately selected profiling beds and patient seating can also support independence by making certain movements and daily activities easier for suitable individuals.
For example, adjustable bed positioning may help some patients participate in everyday activities, while appropriately specified seating can support comfort and time spent out of bed.
These benefits must always be balanced against the individual’s clinical needs and safety.
The key message: Patients and carers should be active participants in pressure ulcer prevention wherever possible.
Bringing It All Together: A Complete Approach to Pressure Ulcer Prevention
Effective pressure ulcer prevention is not achieved through one product, one assessment or one intervention.
It requires several elements working together.
| Prevention element | Role in patient care |
| Pressure redistribution mattresses | Help manage pressure while the patient is lying down |
| Profiling beds | Support positioning, transfers and care activities |
| Patient seating | Supports appropriate sitting positions and comfort |
| Clinical assessment | Identifies individual risk and equipment requirements |
| Movement and repositioning | Helps reduce sustained pressure on vulnerable areas |
| Education and teamwork | Supports consistent prevention practices |
| Patient involvement | Encourages awareness, communication and independence |
A mattress is an essential component of many pressure ulcer prevention strategies, but it cannot address every risk on its own.
The greatest benefits come from combining appropriate equipment with evidence-based clinical practice, effective communication and person-centred care.
Supporting Pressure Ulcer Prevention with Renray Healthcare
At Renray Healthcare, we understand that every patient and every care environment has different requirements.
Our range of healthcare solutions includes:
By offering a broad range of products, we aim to help healthcare organisations identify practical solutions that meet their clinical, operational and budgetary needs.
As we support Stop the Pressure Week 2026, we encourage healthcare professionals, care providers and patients to consider the wider picture of pressure ulcer prevention.
Because the right mattress matters — but so does everything around it.
Looking to review your pressure area care equipment?
Whether you’re considering new mattresses, profiling beds or specialist patient seating, the Renray Healthcare team is happy to discuss your requirements and help you explore the options available.
Contact Renray Healthcare to learn more about our pressure area care solutions.
