This will depend on the patient’s condition, risk score, comfort and clinical judgement, as well as manufacturer guidance too. For example, OSKA mattresses are colour coded to enable the appropriate mattress to be selected based on clinical risk & category of PU. Think holistically but key things to look out for when selecting a mattress would be:
- Will the surface meet the clinical, psychological and psychosocial needs of the patient?
- Does it offer excellent immersion, envelopment and optimum skin microclimate?
- Easy to reposition/ mobilise?
| Indication | Selector | Mattress |
| Complex (e.g Palliative Care) | Red Selector: all categories | Series5 Lateral tilt mattress |
| Complex (e.g Palliative Care) | Red Selector: all categories | Series6 OneSurface™ Advanced hybrid mattress |
| category 3 & 4 | Red Selector: all categories | Series4H High-specification hybrid (pumped) |
| category 3 & 4 | Red Selector: all categories | Series3 Auto Alternating air mattress |
| Category 1, category 2 & Very high risk | Yellow Selector: category 1-2 | Series 4H High-specification hybrid (pumpless) |
| Category 1, category 2 & very high risk | Yellow Selector: category 1-2 | Series4 Non-powered hybrid mattress |
| Category 1, category 2 & very high risk | Yellow Selector: category 1-2 | Air Overlay Alternating air overlay mattress |
| Category 1, category 2 & very high risk | Yellow Selector: category 1-2 | Series2 High specification foam mattress |
| High risk & very high risk | Green Selector: high risk & very high risk | Series1 Advance High specification castellated foam pressure care mattress |
| High risk | Green Selector: high risk & very high risk | Series1 high risk mattress |