HOSPITALS & HEALTHCARE
ATTRACTING MORE FOREIGN WORKERS
Every winter we see headlines warning that the NHS is under intense pressure. Paul Mulready, Marketing Manager of Northwood Hygiene Products Ltd, examines how facilities managers can help to ease pressure in hospital and healthcare settings.
Recent research has revealed that one in three adults have missed work in the last year because of long NHS waiting lists. A poll of 2,235 adults commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reported that 36% needed time off work or took a sick day while they waited for an appointment. Young adults were the worst affected with more than half of 18-34 year olds forced to miss work while they sought care.
The research supports figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which show that around 2.5 million people in the UK are economically inactive due to sickness – that’s 400,000 more people than pre-pandemic.
Long waiting times are compounded by widespread winter viruses and germs, which of course translate to more sick days. Facilities managers must therefore do all they can to maintain hygienic hospital and healthcare settings to keep people safe. And it starts with choosing the right products and suppliers.
Prioritising hygiene The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates that 300,000 patients a year contract a Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) as a result of care in the NHS. These infections are believed to cost the NHS approximately £1bn a year, so it’s vital for everyone to be able to wash their hands to slow transmission.
With washrooms busy in winter season, managers need to control the use of disposable products like soap and towels, which are likely to deplete very quickly. Keeping dispensers well stocked is essential, so FMs should look for controlled-use dispensers that restrict the use of consumables. This not only helps to reduce costs, it also reduces waste and is more environmentally sustainable.
High-capacity washroom solutions that curb over consumption also help to overcome the problem of run- outs between maintenance visits, which are frustrating for visitors and heap pressure onto busy maintenance staff.
Paper towels are a hygienic choice for healthcare settings - they dry hands faster and more thoroughly than air dryers, helping to speed up washroom visits. Similarly, toilet roll runs out quickly in washrooms, so facilities managers should specify high-capacity systems that are quick and easy to replenish.
Supplier credentials The choice of products in a healthcare setting is important, but the supplier behind them is also crucial. Do they have a reliable supply chain to guarantee products
24 | TOMORROW’S FM
when times are stretched? Do they offer a breadth of products designed for healthcare? Are they committed to sustainability? Do they manufacture in the UK or import from overseas, with products having to travel thousands of miles to reach the end user?
At Northwood, we’re helping healthcare providers to promote effective hygiene practices and make a contribution to the environment with sustainable solutions.
Committed to supplying products that are fit for use in demanding healthcare settings, we are a fully vertically integrated UK manufacturer. This means that our raw materials and finished products have to travel less miles, which is better for the environment. We also have control of the full supply chain - from waste paper collection, recycling, manufacturing and delivery - resulting in a smaller carbon footprint.
These are just some of the ways that we’re helping to keep the hospital and healthcare sector well stocked, whilst also delivering better value with with less impact on the environment.
Hygiene is vital in hospital and healthcare facilities and washrooms must be made as safe and infection-free as possible during the winter. With the right choice of products and suppliers, FMs can help to make a difference.
www.northwood.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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