Waste disposal/Infection control
The single-use pulp bedpan system ‘breaks the infection cycle’, reducing the risk of hospital-associated infections including MRSA, C. difficile, Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and Enterococcus faecium.
No sterilisation is required. Human waste is simply disposed of.
Cost and environmental benefits Haigh says use of its macerators with pulp bedpans also offers significant cost and environmental benefits. The machines operate using only cold water, discharging no chemicals into the drains, and, Haigh says, use 50 per cent less energy per cycle than ‘alternative macerators’ and, 90% less than bedpan washing systems. The macerators also ‘require less maintenance’, offer ‘an improved hospital environment’ due to lower odour and noise, and will safely and efficiently dispose of sustainable pulp items including ‘macerator-friendly’ wipes. Equally, ‘because no scrubbing, rewashing, or unloading of bedpans is required, they offer speedy and simple operation, and free up staff time for patient care’. Installation is ‘quick and easy’, while perhaps the biggest selling point is the macerators’ reliability – they are claimed to be the market’s most reliable. As with other models, Haigh says the current ‘flagship’ model, the Quattro, was ‘built on years of experience’, and designed in close partnership with customers, taking into account feedback from the ‘highly successful’ Classic and SOLO macerators.
Compact footprint With many sluice rooms offering little space, the Quattro is ‘32 per cent smaller’ than other four-item macerators, has a 20% lower loading height, uses 19% less energy, and has a ‘10-year +’ life expectancy. Haigh worked with several hospitals, including the Alexandra Hopsital in Redditch, to develop it. One
Robot programmer setter operator, John Harris, checking the settings on the Trumpf TruLaser Robot 5020 laser welding system.
estates professional to contribute was Tim Onions, a mechanical technician in the Trust’s estates department, who explains: “Haigh worked with us to improve drain flow, developing the Premium Flow feature, which flushes extra water through the drain at key stages in the maceration cycle. We wouldn’t install a macerator without it now.” Conscious that blocked drains can be a serious financial and practical issue for healthcare estates personnel, the Quattro was designed ‘to keep drains flowing’ by releasing pulp gradually throughout its cycle – through tiny slots in the bottom of the drum which prevent large particles or foreign in objects passing into the drain. Before finishing its cycle, the Premium Flow feature sees the machine pause to allow any pulp left in the hopper to drop to the bottom. The macerator then resumes its cycle, and flushes the remaining pulp away.
Curved surfaces
and no ‘dirt traps’ With infection control a key consideration, the Quattro’s smooth, curved surfaces are ‘free from dirt traps’, and easy to wipe clean, while the compact size facilitates installation away from walls, making it easy to clean all round, The ABS plastic and rubber surfaces feature built-in ‘lifetime protection’ via Biomaster silver anti-bacterial technology.
Opening is via a ‘light touch’ button on the top or via an optional foot pedal, while a wide hopper facilitates safe loading, and
Stuart Anderson said: “As in the automotive industry, good product evolution requires keeping in constant touch with your customers, and identifying the features they need and want.”
even pressure around the lid seal stops leaks of liquid, aerosols, or odour. The Quattro, and Haigh’s other macerators, can be supplied with ‘Macifresh’ auto- deodoriser; the machines operate with just cold water, and each cycle lasts under two minutes. Haigh also offers site surveys prior to installation, full training on efficient use of the equipment, and service contracts with discounts on spares.
Drawbacks of some hands-free machines
While some competitors offer hands-free macerators, Haigh claims these are ‘generally less reliable’, and ‘vulnerable to power failures’, which could mean a user not being able to open the lid. The Quattro is a big seller, but Haigh also continues to offer a range of other macerators for ‘safe, fast, and efficient’ single-use pulp bedpan disposal, including the SOLO, said to be ‘perfect for small spaces’, and able to macerate single items in under 60 seconds, and the Classic+. Offering ‘reliability and simplicity in the sluice room’, the Classic+ is described as ‘a robust, straightforward model which fits easily into benching’. It can dispose of four pulp products in under two minutes, using only 24 litres of cold water. This ‘no- frills workhorse machine’ is ‘designed for users for whom simplicity and economy are the primary concerns’.
Although naturally keen to discuss the selling points of the company’s bedpan macerator range equipment, the Haigh personnel I met during my visit were
The machines operate using only cold water, discharging no chemicals into the drains, and, Haigh says, use 50 per cent less energy per cycle than ‘alternative macerators’
Health Estate Journal 71September 2016
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