Busy hospital wards don’t leave much room for delay. When things pick up, staff rely on simple systems to help them move quickly, find what they need, and stay focused on patient care, not on refilling stock or rooting through drawers. That’s where healthcare HTM71 storage units come in. They’re standardised, efficient, and widely used across hospitals for one clear reason: they offer structure.
But structured storage can sometimes clash with the daily rhythm of a fast-moving space. The routines of hospital work don’t always match the neatness of fixed shelving and fixed-size trays. When beds fill up and staff numbers shift with each rota, what once felt practical might start to feel restrictive.
Winter often adds pressure. With higher patient demand across the UK and more frequent stock turnover, well-meaning storage setups can begin to fall behind. We’ve seen how the right storage supports ward flow, but we’ve also seen what happens when those systems don’t flex as staff need them to.
So, we’re looking at where HTM71 storage might fall short in real-world ward use, especially when systems get stretched by the season.
Understanding What HTM71 Storage Was Designed For
The HTM71 framework has a clear purpose. It was introduced to improve how hospitals store and manage consumables, especially in clinical areas where infection control and stock clarity matter. By using a standard sizing system for trays, runners, and internal layouts, healthcare spaces could stay organised while reducing the chance of errors or cross-contamination.
HTM71 units work well for keeping everything neat. Trays are built to slide in and out of runners with little fuss. Same-size items go in the same places. Storekeepers can label easily and suppliers know exactly what they’re restocking. Over time, staff in the space know where everything is and can find what they need fast, at least when daily use stays the same.
These units are also built with hygiene in mind. Smooth surfaces are easier to clean. Standard trays cut down on lid flipping and awkward reaches into corners. Shelves are usually plastic or medical-grade metal, so they resist wear and wipe down quickly between shifts. For infection control teams and stock managers, that all works in their favour.
But there’s something these units don’t always offer: adaptability. They’re brilliantly reliable in rooms that don’t shift much, like treatment rooms or low-traffic storage areas. But wards are rarely that calm or predictable.
When everyday routines change, when patient volume rises or storage needs shift, things can start to feel tight. HTM71 follows a plan, but wards often have to work off feel. And that’s where gaps start to show.
Where HTM71 Storage Units Get Put Under Pressure
In a closed room with a single use, HTM71 does the job. But wards are shared spaces, constantly shifting between admissions, discharges, and emergencies. It’s not just one team using the drawers or opening cupboards. Cleaning staff, pharmacy support, nurses, and doctors all need access, and often at the same time.
During winter, many hospitals experience even higher demands. Nursing teams face faster turnover and supplies move in and out more often. The fixed design of HTM71 trays can get in the way of those quick shifts. Shelves don’t adjust easily if the size of stored items changes. And when trolleys or overstock boxes are wedged into corners because cupboards can’t take larger items, the space starts to feel even smaller.
A few common pinch points show up again and again:
- Deep trays filled beyond easy reach during time-sensitive care
- Limited space between shelves that make bulky packs hard to access
- Trays pulled out then left unreturned during busy periods, creating clutter fast
Even when a system is neat on paper, the stress of actual ward life can undo its efficiency fast. The amount of time spent opening multiple trays or stepping around a fixed cupboard is time missed somewhere else.
That’s not a reflection of poor design, but of working in places where function has to shift daily. HTM71 works within a framework, but staff often work far outside one.
That contrast becomes even more visible when room layouts don’t fit the storage footprint. When units are placed in a certain arrangement that looks optimal on paper, it might not support the types of movement required as shifts change and bed spaces fill. On some wards, what felt like an open space during planning can lose its flexibility when more teams share the space and equipment gets added or shifted.
When Good Layout Meets Real-Life Traffic
On paper, an HTM71 setup might look fine. Each unit lines up neatly, pathways appear open, and access points are clear. But these layouts don’t always match the way people move once the ward fills up. Staff take the quickest routes between beds. Trolleys may be parked in temporary spots. A cupboard that worked well during planning can end up right in the middle of a natural walking path.
Corridors in older wings or smaller facilities can make storage even trickier. Static cupboards may stick out too far, and once stocked, they can block shared equipment or doorways. If drawers can’t open fully without hitting something else, staff either force it or leave it. That’s when trays go missing or supplies get stored loosely nearby.
In tight spaces, even small obstacles slow things down. Taking an extra ten seconds to reach a pair of gloves may not sound like much until you’re doing it again and again throughout a shift. Over time, that friction builds up, especially during winter surges when speed becomes crucial.
Static HTM71 storage doesn’t adapt overnight. Once installed, changing layout usually means downtime. That lack of flexibility can weigh on wards that are already pushing for quicker response times and more fluid care delivery.
It’s important to remember that good layout goes beyond just spacing. When new beds are added during surge capacity, previously clear walkways can become blocked, and access to certain trays or cupboards gets harder. Double-stacked units or hastily placed trolleys might provide a quick solution for extra storage needs, but these can cause congestion near crucial workspaces or doors.
Every time the flow of people is interrupted, or when supplies are not easily at hand, nurses and support staff feel that extra strain on their time and energy.
What Staff Really Need From Storage in Busy Wards
When the focus is on patients and timing, staff need storage that helps them move quickly and confidently. That often means access without fuss. In busy wards, seeing is finding. Visual cues like open shelving, colour-coded bins, or shallow compartments are easier to work with when you’re moving fast.
Modular or mixed-use layouts can make a noticeable difference. While HTM71 storage units bring order, sometimes they need to be balanced with flexible trolleys or mobile supply banks that can move with the shift. For example, we offer not only static or mobile cupboards but also a full range of medical trolleys including procedure trolleys and multi-function trolleys that allow quick access for clinical teams.
Staff also know their space. They understand where traffic builds and which corners are constantly in the way. Bringing clinical staff into the conversation about where and how storage is installed can lead to layouts that reflect what actually happens during a shift, not just what fits a spec drawing.
Feedback can reveal simple fixes. Maybe shelving needs to rise a level to fit larger boxes below. Maybe smaller trays work better on top cupboards where reach is limited. These small decisions often have a big effect on daily flow.
Noise management is another area that matters, particularly during night shifts or in wards where patients need more rest. Metal runners or unpadded trays can produce unwanted sounds with repeated use, so finding storage solutions that reduce noise is also appreciated by staff.
When staff pressure builds, the right storage can ease it, if it’s designed to shift with them, not hold them back.
The Real Difference with Flexible Ward Storage
Storage that works right does more than keep things tidy, it supports staff to deliver better patient care, especially during seasonal peaks when every second counts. Solutions that combine HTM71 structure with flexible products, like modular shelving, mobile trolleys, and even barcode systems for stock management, let wards stay responsive and efficient all year round.
At PP Healthcare Solutions, we understand that effective healthcare storage is not one-size-fits-all. Our modular and mobile systems come together as complete turnkey solutions, providing flexibility for daily ward demands and improving both organisation and response times. To see how our healthcare HTM71 storage units can support shifting demands, speak with us today.