National Back Exchange

What does “good” really look like in slide sheet performance?

Independent evaluation is playing an increasingly important role in guiding safer patient handling practices across healthcare.

A recent independent NHS evaluation explored how slide sheets perform in real clinical environments, highlighting key considerations such as:
• Ease of repositioning for caregivers
• Patient comfort during movement
• Durability after repeated laundering
• Impact on reducing physical strain

These findings reinforce the importance of evidence-based product selection, ensuring solutions continue to perform over time, not just on day one.
As organisations look to improve both staff safety and patient outcomes, evaluations like this are helping shape best practice.

Read the full evaluation:
https://blog.mipuk.co.uk/independent-nhs-slide-sheet-evaluation

Join the discussion with NBE Corporate Partner at NBE Conference 2026, 13–15 September.

Who's excited for this year's conference! 🙋‍♀️🙋

The countdown is officially on! In less than one month, moving and handling professionals from across health and social care will come together at the National Back Exchange Annual Conference 2026 for what promises to be an inspiring, practical, and thought-provoking event

Over the course of the conference, delegates can look forward to:

✅ A packed programme featuring over 30 workshops covering acute, community, bariatric and paediatric care, alongside the latest developments in moving and handling practice.

✅ Inspiring plenary sessions from an outstanding line-up of speakers

✅ Hands-on learning opportunities exploring topics such as AI in moving and handling, deconditioning prevention, bariatric care, paediatric assessment, falls management, ergonomics, sensory systems, sling selection and much more.

✅ A bustling exhibition showcasing the latest equipment, technology and innovations from leading organisations including Five, Tierco Healthcare Group (Seating Matters), Drive Medical, Etac Group, GBUK, MIP UK, Ocura Healthcare Furniture and many more.

✅ CPD-accredited learning, networking opportunities, live demonstrations and the chance to connect with a passionate community dedicated to improving care, safety and outcomes for patients and staff.

Places are still available so if you haven't booked your place yet visit https://www.nationalbackexchange.org/nbe-annual-conference and secure your place!

Discover new solutions at NBE Conference 2026

NBE Corporate Partner MIP Inc. UK will be showcasing their latest innovation in repositioning at this year’s event.

Come and meet the team and discover the Edge Wedge. A simple yet effective positioning solution designed for real clinical environments.
• Designed for comfort, versatility, and stability
• Three angled sides to support positioning
• Non-slip surface for improved usability

See them in action and learn how they can support safer patient handling and improved comfort.

Join us at NBE Conference, 13–15 September.

Have you retrieved your Moving & Handling Day CPD certificate yet?

Check your inbox, where you'll find an email from National Back Exchange linking you to Moving & Handling Awareness Day feedback and your CPD certificate.

If it's not there, it's worth checking your junk mailbox; if you still can't find it, let us know: [email protected]

NBE Corporate Partner MIP Inc. will be joining us at NBE 2026, Stand 30.

We’re pleased to welcome MIP as a valued partner at this year’s National Back Exchange Conference.

“MIP is committed to supporting safer patient handling through innovative, practical solutions that improve both patient comfort and caregiver safety. Partnering with NBE allows us to contribute to advancing best practice across the healthcare sector.”

On their stand, you’ll be able to explore:
• Moving & handling best practices
• Patient comfort & affordable textiles
• Innovative solutions supporting safer care environments

Don’t miss the chance to connect, learn, and explore what’s next in safer patient handling.

Have you downloaded the conference programme yet? Grab your copy from the conference website today and start planning!

Download the programme here: https://lnkd.in/esK-mJBT

If you haven't registered your place yet make sure you book before the 17th July to make the most of the earlybird rate. Remember you don't need to pay before this date, just register. You can pay later and we'll still honour the price!

Visit the main conference page to register - https://lnkd.in/ecPedMes

Need help with funding - download our funding pack from the link above with lots of information and templates to help you explore various funding routes.

Don't miss out on our upcoming webinar!

Introduction Bariatric Early Assessment of Mobility will be presented by Lee Sherwood

📅 Wednesday 15th July at 10:00am

Event Summary:
What does your service currently do well in supporting bariatric mobility, and where do the gaps sit? Where are the barriers most often equipment, time, opportunity, or confidence?
The answer, increasingly, is that mobility needs to be actively defended, not just maintained. BEAM (Bariatric Early Assessment of Mobility) is a new assessment tool built around exactly that principle: identify the structural barriers early, and translate them into action. This webinar introduces the tool, walks through worked examples, and sets out concrete ways the NBE community can help validate it.

Members will find the link to register in their inbox.
Please contact [email protected] to be resent the link or find out more about becoming a member of NBE.

The webinar is anticipated to run for about 45 minutes and will include a Q&A session.

☀️ With the temperature rising, it’s the perfect time to take a break and check out your latest column digital which drops tomorrow – stay cool, stay safe, and happy summer reading 😎