Choosing the best waiting room chair for hospitals is a critical aspect of creating a welcoming, comfortable, and functional space for patients and visitors. The right hospital chairs not only enhance the patient experience but also play a crucial role in maintaining hygiene, ensuring durability, and improving patient comfort and wellbeing.
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Why Quality Hospital Chairs Matter
Many of us will have experienced waiting in A&E for medical attention, whether with a family member, child or for ourselves.
A&E waiting room
This provision is invaluable in our time of need, and the dedication and skill of A&E teams often working under pressure and difficult circumstances is worthy of the highest praise.
However, as we all know in A&E, “waiting” is the word. One hour, two hours, six hours, maybe even eight hours wait, until you can be triaged, medically assessed, and given the treatment you need.
And what are you sat on during this time? A seat that is, if we’re honest, no more than a board with a layer of hard foam on top wrapped in vinyl.
Cold, hard, flat and rigid chairs with scant regard for human ergonomics are the order of the day in most A&E waiting rooms throughout the UK.
Would you travel on a 6-hour journey on this kind of surface? No chance!
And given the physical and emotional pain that A&E patients are going through during this time, it begs the question: “Why?”
Accident and Emergency department
How to Find the Right Waiting Room Chairs for Your Hospital
When selecting waiting room chairs for hospitals, it is essential to prioritise a few key features:
Comfort
As we know, patients and visitors spend long periods of time waiting. Chairs with an ergonomic sitting position and pressure-relieving upholstery ensure maximum comfort.
Understanding different patient demographics is important; for example, chairs with higher seat heights may be better suited for elderly patients.
Durability
Hospital environments demand furniture that can withstand heavy use. Chairs constructed with robust materials and reinforced frames ensure long-lasting performance and better value for money.
Hygiene
Easy-to-clean materials such as antimicrobial upholstery help maintain high hygiene standards, essential for waiting areas where there is a high risk of cross-contamination.
Accessibility
Waiting room chairs should accommodate individuals with mobility challenges, including those who need armrest support, height adjustment or removeable armrests for side transfers.
Design
Sleek, modern designs can contribute to a calming and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Below, we’ll explore some top hospital chair options, including our standout HiBack Bedside Chair, helping you choose the best seating for your hospital’s waiting area.
The HiBack Bedside Chair: Comfort Meets Functionality
The HiBack Bedside Chair, a high back chair developed for hospitals in response to the overwhelming demand for better bedside seating, is the perfect addition to any hospital’s waiting room. Designed with both comfort and practicality in mind, it seamlessly blends innovative design features with patient comfort.
HiBack Bedside Chair
Key Benefits of the HiBack Bedside Chair
Ergonomic Support
The chair’s high-backed design offers outstanding support for patients and visitors, particularly those with back or neck issues. The inbuilt lumbar section supports the spine, and the internal wing sections give head support, providing outstanding comfort for those sitting for long periods of time.
The medium-risk pressure foam in the seat and backrest cushion provides enhanced comfort for longer sitting periods, covered in a soft and stretchy PU fabric that relieves pressure, cools the skin and prevents moisture build-up.
Backrest and lumbar support
Hygiene-Friendly Materials
The chair’s upholstery is crafted from easy-to-clean, antimicrobial materials, making it ideal for maintaining infection control protocols.
With no wood in its construction and a sealed seat base, the chair is fully water and bacteria-resistant.
Durable Construction
Built to withstand heavy use, the HiBack Bedside Chair is constructed from PPC (Polypropylene Copolymer) for extra durability, with seamless welds and anti-microbial properties.
Polypropylene frame construction
Sleek Aesthetic
Its sleek, modern design fits seamlessly into any hospital waiting room, with a range of colour options for the upholstery.
Practical Functionality
Lightweight but sturdy, this chair can be easily wheeled around with the push handle to reconfigure seating arrangements and assist patients.
The seat is designed to help patients who struggle with standing to get on and off the chair, with soft padded armrests (which can be easily removed for side transfers), easy to grip fabric, and a recessed seat base so patients can position their feet back slightly, improving their stance.
Rear push handle and wheels
Whether it’s providing comfort for family members, waiting to hear updates on a loved one’s condition, or creating a welcoming seating space for outpatient clinics, the HiBack Bedside Chair stands out as a premium hospital chair choice.
Other Hospital Chair Options
While the HiBack Bedside Chair is a top recommendation, there are additional waiting room chairs that can complement any hospital environment:
Beam Seating
Ideal for maximising space in high-traffic areas, beam seating offers multiple connected seats that are easy to clean and maintain.
Beam seating
Modular Chairs
These flexible seating solutions allow hospitals to customise their waiting room layouts and adapt to changing needs.
Modular seating
Armchairs
Providing enhanced comfort and support, armchairs are perfect for elderly patients or those with mobility concerns.
High back armchair
Recliner Chairs
Offering adjustable backrests, these chairs can provide superior comfort for longer waits.
Recliner chair
Conclusion
The waiting room experience can significantly influence patient perceptions of care quality. Comfortable, well-designed hospital chairs contribute to a more positive experience, reduce anxiety, and help create a calm environment for both patients and visitors.
Also, investing in high-quality, durable waiting room chairs minimises the need for frequent replacements, saving hospitals money in the long term. Chairs like the HiBack Bedside Chair are designed to withstand the demands of a busy healthcare environment while maintaining superior comfort and aesthetic appeal.
If you’re ready to transform your hospital waiting room, get in touch with us today to learn more about the HiBack Bedside Chair and other seating solutions.
Learn More or Enquire About The HiBack Chair
Ralph has many years' experience in the healthcare sector. In a previous life he worked in finance, and his spreadsheet skills come in handy for all the analysis and research he does as he investigates topics and solutions for some of the world's most complex healthcare conditions and challenges. Aside from writing in-depth articles and organising webinars and interviews with top healthcare professionals, Ralph also administrates Vivid's "Healthcare Pioneers Board", a large group of healthcare specialists with multiple disciplines, who are working together to improve care for years to come.
