Medical device alert for Freeway Easy Fit system overhead hoists

Manufactured by Prism, the Freeway Easy Fit system helps carers carry patients with little or no mobility so they can be safely moved across short distances; e.g. from their bed into a chair. The overhead hoists consist of a reinforced metal frame to which a hoist motor is attached, joining the flexible sling that the patient is carried in.

However, a recent incident saw a securing pin for the mounting hoops on the hoist dislodge, allowing the hoop to detach. Given that hoist injuries at work are actually incredibly common and often lead to serious injuries to patients and back injuries for employees, this is an important alert and issue to resolve.

About the defect

Since the device is usually used on the disabled and elderly, the risk of harm to both care workers and patients is significant. If the hoop detaches during use, the patient could be dropped onto the floor and will likely suffer injuries. For vulnerable patients, such injuries could take much longer to recuperate from and could even lead to further operations and risk of complications.

Employees may end up taking the weight of a person as well, causing injuries if the hoist breaks.

A couple of historic examples of sling and hoist injury caes

Back in 2010, a 100-year-old lady fell out of a body sling at her care home and suffered skull fractures, a broken leg, a black eye and other cuts and bruises.

She tragically died the next day.

A few years later in 2013, another pensioner died after falling from a body sling whilst being moved from her bed to a chair in a Leicester nursing home, and was also badly injured. Our firm has represented both patients and care providers for sling and hoist injuries, so we know the dangers all too well.

Action to be taken

Prism Medical UK’s Field Safety Notice provides clear photographic illustrations on how to check the pins for the mounting hoop. Only Freeway Easy Fit systems with a swivelling trolley are reportedly affected by the issue. Until the upgrade is completed, users are being told to check the hoop has a pin flush at both sides every single time the device is used. If it’s displaced even slightly to one side at all, the device should not be used.

Although this is the current advice, we’d think it best to not use the systems at all until the issue is rectified. However, it is down to the manufacturers of these deceives to provide the advice, and not us.

Prism are set to be replacing the pin by securing the hoop of the trolley through the use of a bolt, spring washer and a nut, and this bolt upgrade should be carried out on all devices. Prism should be getting in touch with customers or users of the devices to arrange for a service representative to visit and inspect the hoist hooks. Any required bolt kit replacements are to be provided free of charge.

Following this alert, Prism is set to be only producing Easy Fit systems with the bolts already in place.