An innovative nursing bed developed by a Malta company will be on show for the first time at the Big 5 this month.

The Prestige-Hammett nursing bed, made by Malta's Prestige Limited, aims to relieve discomfort for bed-ridden patients while helping them attain a better quality of life, says the company.

The bed, according to the company, is the brainchild of Anthony Hammett who developed it following a stay in hospital during which he was confined to his bed.

Hammett's ideas, which have been patented, were developed into a product by an associate engineering firm, Tua Engineering, and Prestige which is manufacturing the bed, will introduce it to the international market at the Dubai show.

The company says the Prestige Hammett nursing bed consists of a high-quality fibreglass bath with a platform and mattress that can be lowered into or raised out of the bath.

Infirm or bed-ridden patients can easily be transferred from a bed or a stretcher onto the bed and then lowered into a bath containing pre-heated water for normal washing or for a therapeutic massage.

"The versatility of the bed allows for the patient to be cared for in a convenient and dignified manner by professional nursing staff, home care-workers or, depending on the extent of the injury, the patients themselves," says Prestige general manager Stephen Aquilina.

"The Prestige Hammett nursing bed is the perfect solution for improving the quality of life of bed-bound victims of burns, spinal injuries or other disabling conditions such as arthritis.

"It is equally suitable for use in hospitals, retirement homes, rehabilitation centres as well as private residence."

The key features of the nursing bed include a purpose-made waterproof non-buoyant mattress, electronically-controlled hydro-massage system and temperature control, easy-to-clean fibreglass and steel tub, shower for partial bathing, manual or battery back-up system in case of power failure and a disinfection system for multiple use.

The company says it is developing another special waterproof and non-buoyant mattress to allow patients to remain on the bed 24 hours a day.

"In extreme cases, this will allow the patient to use the Prestige Hammett instead of a normal bed, with the added advantage of allowing the patient to be conveniently bathed several times a day," says Aquilina.