Servicing & maintenance


Good service: picking the right maintenance supplier


Spearhead Healthcare service manager Martin Cook outlines the importance for care homes to select the right servicing and maintenance supplier during the Covid-19 pandemic and suggests attributes to look for in a supplier


The spread of Covid-19 has drastically changed life as we know it, it has impacted almost all aspects of daily life, work, and social activities. As the number of worldwide cases increases and the death toll exceeds 500,000,1


people


realise the need for behavioural change and are adapting to the ‘new normal’ of remote working and social distancing. The care sector, of course, has been


particularly impacted by the virus. The high number of care home deaths is not only tragic on a human level, but also carries a substantial economic impact for the sector as operators could find themselves struggling to keep afloat with many empty rooms in their homes. According to the Health Protection Services,2 these elevated numbers


reflect the potential vulnerability of care homes which facilitates the outbreak of diseases. This is due to the close contact between residents and carers, as well as residents often being very elderly and other underlying health conditions. Care homes should analyse their


current actions and behaviours, and plan towards a system that discourages the further spread of the coronavirus. It is uncertain how long the virus will


circulate but experts say it could be until the end of 2021 before a vaccine is found,3


so it is imperative that new and


innovative processes are implemented to continue life amid the health crisis. All care home decision-makers should


carefully consider how to deal with the pandemic in the long term, protect residents and reduce the number of contagions. Managing the flow of people in a care home is crucial to avoid


unnecessary contact with the outside world and reduce the probability of the virus entering a care home. Care homes are obliged by law4


to be


carrying out maintenance and servicing of moving and handling equipment as dictated by LOLER (1998) regulations. However, if servicing is carried out


unsafely, it can potentially result in a further spread of the virus causing more deaths. For instance, many servicing and repair works are carried out directly in care homes and when access cannot be granted due to the pandemic, it is imperative to find proactive suppliers that can plan and adapt their systems to the current happenings.


If servicing is carried out unsafely, it can potentially result in a further spread of the virus causing more deaths


August 2020 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


Flexibility and communication Flexibility and communication are two interconnected aspects that care homes need to look for in a servicing and maintenance supplier. The supplier should work around the care home and needs to be understanding and flexible to reflect the rapid change of the current pandemic. Clear and efficient communication is


key to manage the logistical issues created by Covid-19 and it results in the creation of two-way dialogues between the care home and the supplier, which ultimately impacts upon the quality of the relationship. Suppliers should communicate in


advance when inspections, repairs and preventative maintenance need to be carried out to fit the care home’s schedule as much as possible. Care homes should also check the


supplier’s first fix rate - the supplier’s rate of solving maintenance issues on the first


25


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34