The truth about contract beds – Budget cuts in the healthcare industry

The health of an individual is one of the most important things there is.  There are many factors that dictate the overall health and well-being of a person, but one particular such factor that we specialise in, is comfort. We take the rest and recovery of patients very, very seriously.

In past blogs, Millbrook Contract Beds has engaged with the issues facing the healthcare industry in terms of looking after people who suffer from ailments or illness; from those in residential care to those in hospital. In recent news, it has been reported that planned cost-cutting measures will savage the healthcare industry quite badly in the coming months. The plan is to see more patients treated at home instead of hospital, and even cuts to jobs and beds in the hospitals themselves has not been ruled out either. Health trusts and government studies show that the quickest way to have an impact on reducing budgets is staff. The potential impact on patient care is substantial thanks to these budget cuts (necessary or not).

If more patients are due to get their treatment at home and not in a hospital or healthcare residence then it is highly likely that the demand for better equipped home care contract bedroom furniture will be required. So as budget cuts look set to scale back on the number of beds available to residents and patients, Millbrook would like to assure people that it is always here as an alternative support for healthcare contract bed solutions.

This is the truth about what we do…

We provide industries with ways of taking care of the people they put up for a night, a week, a month, or even indefinitely. Our contract beds are about enduring and providing uncompromising comfort for those that are guests, patients or residents.

Millbrook Contract Beds specialises in healthcare contract beds and has been supplying the healthcare industry and professions with our expertise and products for a good 60 years now. Our belief is that if patients need expert care then substandard surroundings just will not do, especially if they will be treated from home.

The two contract beds we offer for this industry are The Therapy and The Purity.

Without performing a live demonstration, we cannot fully express here just how advanced and superior these healthcare beds are for people for need to experience varying degrees of comfort, independence and assistance.

For instance, The Therapy is the finest adjustable contract bed available as far as we’re concerned! Its control function is a five way adjustable positioning system that can be operated via handset control giving complete autonomy to the user. With an added massage option it really is the cutting edge. It sums up the three ‘R’ words; recline, relaxation and recovery.

We’ll have to wait and see how these budget cuts affect the healthcare industry and what consequences they may have on quality of patient care but Millbrook Contract Beds will always be able to provide a safety net when it comes to home care alternatives with our contract bed options.

Quality of sleep affects students academic performance – Millbrook Contract Beds

Recent studies by medical and health professionals have indicated that the amount of sleep that students receive each night can affect their academic performance.

Millbrook Contracts Beds has investigated further into this by undertaking some research of our own into this area.

From what multiple studies we have found, teenagers who sleep between 7-8 hours per night score significantly higher in exams than students who sleep too much or too little. This is clearly down to a lack of sleep inhibiting normal growth and development of the brain. In turn this affects the synapses need for communication.

Sleep deprivation during the most sensitive time for development during adolescence can lead to even more serious learning and functioning problems further down the line.

So what is it that students are doing wrong to cause themselves such restless sleep cycles?

Well, the first and most obvious factor involved here is their lifestyle choices. Late nights spent watching television, eating junk foods, having many distractions in the bedroom from internet access to computer consoles, all contribute to bad sleep cycles.

How can we help?

Millbrook specialise in contract beds that are handmade to create the ultimate in luxury sleep. Our 60 years experience has given us the blueprint from which to base our incomparable designs. When it comes to the comfort needs of the academic industry we offer our Academic Collection.

Essentially, this collection combines practicality, comfort and economy to create an ideal sleep scenario for younger persons who need to get a good night’s sleep. There are models to suit every situation and location with durable and hard wearing mattresses and frames.

There are multiple choices available for bed frames and legs with these contract beds giving them a flexibility and space-saving potential that most other beds cannot provide.

The Campus contract bed is one of the most popular choices for academic residences from boarding schools to university campuses where smart design features, open coil springs and a fresh mattress give the precise level of comfort required.

The Campus Contract Bed

Students MUST have high quality beds and they MUST be maintained to the same standard of quality.

However, at the end of the day when all is said and done, we can only offer the most comfortable option for students to help them get the best sleep possible, but it is up to the individuals to make sure they regulate their sleep environments to make them fit for a peaceful night ahead. Get rid of the distractions in the room, set yourself regular sleep hours and avoid all the pitfalls of sleep affecting behaviour.

For a list of top tips on what to do and what not to do before bed CLICK to read our “What makes a good night’s sleep” blog HERE.

Contact Us for more information on our Academic Collection or any of our other contract beds.

Hospitality industry may be the key to economic recovery – Millbrook Contract Beds

Millbrook Contract Beds has had a vast experience in dealing with the hospitality industry for many years now. We keep our finger on the pulse of this sector and the developments within in it in order to stay ahead of the future demand. Recently, we’ve been following the hospitality industry’s prominence and growing significance during the economic downturn.

According to reports in the media and from government studies, the hospitality industry is currently leading the way in aiding economic recovery in the UK. During 2011, there was a tremendous growth seen, particularly around the time of the Royal Wedding in April. Since then the figures have only increased with a positive effect on hotelier operations nationwide. With 2012 proving to be a very big year for the UK in general courtesy of the upcoming Olympic Games and the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, the hospitality industry is extremely well-positioned to begin taking the economy in the right direction.

One of the main hindrances at current is the lack of competitive prices on offer. The higher VAT rate has been a major factor in this problem. A majority of EU states have reduced the VAT rates on accommodations and attractions in their respective countries, which makes the UK a lot less competitive than our friends across the channel.

Millbrook has been doing its part to help reduce the burden of cost for hoteliers with our contract beds and contract bed options. Through giving them the very best in contract bed quality for bargain prices it will hopefully offer an alternative solution to those businesses that engage with us and use our products. Commercial beds are a huge part of this process and hoteliers cannot operate without them, for obvious reasons.

Considering that the UK hospitality industry contributes over £46 billion in wages and profits to local economies every year, it’s time the industry got cut a break by its suppliers. That includes those of us that supply them with their commercial beds! It’s been documented through research and studies in the last year that many local authorities in the country are highly dependent on the industry as a whole and its contributions to economic prosperity.

Through the creation of new employment opportunities and a wealth of new business transactions, this industry is one of the supporting pillars in the contemporary era of British economic recovery. It needs to be championed as such. What is good to see is the encouragement coming through from the government and local authorities to see the hospitality sector grow and generate as many new jobs as possible.

2012 looks set to be a collective success across many industries as long as we can hold it together and keep prices competitive, standards high and growth steady.

Millbrook Contract Beds is dedicated to being a solid friend and business partner to the hospitality industry in the coming months and years, and we hope that everyone is ready to show their support come 2012 in the new year.

Follow Millbrook on Twitter and Facebook to join in with our discussions and community.

Contract beds for student housing

Academic contract beds

When it comes to decking out student housing with all the bells and whistles of comfortable living, it’s important to balance economy, feasibility and practicality. That’s even more important when kitting out student bedrooms with that crucial piece of furniture: the bed. Millbrook Contract Beds has a range of affordable contract beds that suit the needs of landlords looking to fill their houses with tenants.

The Academic Collection from Millbrook Contract Beds services every possible situation, location and need that comes with the hectic job of filling your property with furniture in preparation for the arrival of your tenants.

After Christmas is another busy time for landlords decorating student accommodation, as they find a spurt of students looking to switch accommodation after their first student digs didn’t work out.

Millbrook Contract Beds’ Academic Collection is excellent value for money because these beds can go the distance in terms of their lifespan. They are strong, durable and great for space-saving. The other advantage is the  hygiene factor, as these beds come with wipe-clean mattress surfaces. All the bases are sturdy and there are multiple choices available for the bed frames and legs.

The Residence

The Residence has a PVC mattress cover and is highly practical and durable in many types of locations. As far as beds go for student accommodation, The Residence Bed is a simple and functional bed that serves the basic purpose. It will last longer than most beds with a sturdy frame and headboard designed for serious punishment. The Residence may be basic, but it doesn’t compromise on comfort or hygiene. The mattress is woollen felt for softness and extra comfort and the surface is wipe-clean. This is the bed  to choose if the tenants are messier than normal.

The Conference Bed

The Conference Bed has an open coil mattress on a metal skid leg base. It’s a very functional and basic bed, but it’s a good contract bed option for student housing. The mattress is completely breathable, which prevents odours and dissipate body heat for the person sleeping in it. The advantage of this one is that it comes with a wipe clean mattress. That’s a huge benefit in student housing, where parties can go awry or dinner can be spilt onto it. All the student needs to do in such circumstances is take off the sheet and wipe it clean.

The Campus Bed

A smart design featuring open coil springs, standard comfort level. The Campus Bed is the next step up in terms of aesthetic and comfort for student housing. Millbrook Contract Beds offers this one with a stitchbond cover to keep the mattress very clean; the coils are open coil springs for added comfort. There are no drawers, but the legs are removable if you want to adjust the height on the bed.

As a provider of contract beds, we think it’s important to offer ranges like these to suit the particular needs of student housing and bedroom furniture. To learn more about pricing or further details on the beds, please contact our team.