Case Study
Patient Evacuation from upstairs
Some jobs feel bigger than the task in front of you. This was one of them.
A patient hadn’t left their home in over three years.
Not to sit in their garden. Not to attend appointments. Not to feel the outside air. They were stuck — not by choice, but by circumstance. And while their world had become smaller and smaller, the complexity of getting them out safely had grown in equal measure.
This wasn’t about shifting furniture or ticking off another job. This was about giving someone a chance to rejoin the world — safely, with dignity, and on their terms.
The Preparation
A task of this size isn’t something you walk into lightly. Once the move begins, there’s no going back — so the devil is in the detail.
We began with a full site risk assessment and created a bespoke evacuation plan tailored to the home, the patient’s needs, and the equipment required. The environment wasn’t designed for this type of move — so we had to shape it until it was.
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The stairwell was reinforced underneath to guarantee weight load bearing.
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Rails were fitted to allow safe descent and smoother friction control.
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Key equipment was positioned precisely in anticipation of the first trial.
Test run 1
Test 1 was a reality check. As much as we hoped for a clean run, real-life scenarios often don’t follow clean scripts.
As we began lowering a simulated patient, the speed picked up faster than expected. Their feet caught the end wall on the turn — a jolt that told us something wasn’t right.
So we adjusted.
Test run 2
Test 2 involved more team members to stabilise the descent. It was steadier, but the feet again hit the turn — still too awkward, still not safe or comfortable.
Test run 3
Test 3 involved rails and a lateral board to try and glide the turn more smoothly. But again, the same pinch point appeared — the angle was simply too tight.
It was time to take a breath. Regroup.
We stepped back and rethought the problem, leaning into our experience. We flipped the approach — literally.
By repositioning the patient in a side-lying position and shaping a smooth embanked curve at the base, we avoided the foot collision entirely.
Result: it worked.
No bumps. No jolts. No compromise on safety or dignity.
We now had a safe, repeatable method — and the confidence to go ahead. Because once it starts, there’s no pause button.
The Move
The patient, calm and fully briefed, lowered themselves onto the HoverJack at the top of the stairs. From there, we transferred them into the EvacPro+, securing every strap and safety measure.
Rails were placed beneath to reduce friction forces and ease the initial movement to the tipping point. Once inertia began, we carefully lowered the patient down the stairs — slow, steady, and controlled.
Position of Equipment
The patient, calm and fully briefed, lowered themselves onto the HoverJack at the top of the stairs. From there, we transferred them into the EvacPro+, securing every strap and safety measure.
Rails were placed beneath to reduce friction forces and ease the initial movement to the tipping point. Once inertia began, we carefully lowered the patient down the stairs — slow, steady, and controlled.
Tight Stairwell Turn
With the stairwell behind us, we still had to navigate the tight doorway. Using the lateral board and slide sheets, we eased the patient through, maintaining safety and dignity at every step.
Once in the downstairs lounge, Yorkshire Ambulance Service were on hand to assist. But we didn’t just hand over and walk away — we stayed involved.
New Beginings
We travelled with the ambulance to the patient’s new home and used the MAV Mobility Vest to keep them stabilised and supported during the final transfer into their new space.
The Collaboration
This move wasn’t possible without the right people working together:
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Lee Sherwood
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Malcolm Tallis
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The hospital’s manual handling team
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Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Each person brought more than just skill — they brought calm thinking, shared responsibility, and an unshakable focus on dignity and care.
Specialist Equipment Used
✔️ 32” HoverJack – Etac UK
✔️ Slide sheets, air device and transfer board – GBUK Banana
✔️ MAV Mobility Vest – Jeenie Solutions
✔️ Extension ladders, hoisting kit & Evac Pro+ – 3ET Limited
The right equipment, coupled with expert handling, turned risk into reassurance.
The Outcome
The patient was safe. Calm. Dignified.
And for the first time in over three years, they were able to step outside their home.
Their words at the end summed up everything we strive for:
“Better than the last time I was evacuated.”
“Wouldn’t have changed a thing — it was perfect.”
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t a textbook case. It was the kind of job that tests your resolve, your creativity, and your purpose. But through failure came clarity. And through teamwork came success.
This wasn’t just about moving a person.
It was about restoring freedom. Dignity. And choice.
We’re always proud. Always privileged to do what we do.