Contracting out
fabric and colour types, and selecting the correct programme (especially temperature) for washing and drying?
n Do you understand the basic principles of the detergent properties and do you know how to pre-treat any stains before washing?
n Do you know of the danger of folding and stacking tumble-dried items which may be warm and humid, and how this may lead to spontaneous combustion and a fire?
n Do you interrogate the laundry machine/ chemical supplies service engineer during/after the visit to fully vet the service report? Do you ask if he is aware of the key stages of HTM01-04 which apply to engineering equipment and validation?
n How do you control the laundering or disposal of any personal protective equipment (PPE) for your staff or residents, especially if it may have become infected?
n Do you ensure that staff training is adequate, that they are trained and certificated in the use of all laundry equipment, and records are kept up to date? This should include specific safety training in all activities which staff undertake and result in a risk assessment which is signed by the staff member and manager.
Outsourcing as a way forward Would it not it be so much easier to remove this chore from your list and outsource it to a professional laundry company? In many other countries – certainly across mainland Europe – this is standard procedure and there is an increasing uptake in the UK due to the pandemic experience, increasing regulations, and greater interrogation by the CQC. You may also be pleasantly surprised at the results of a costing exercise, so why not reach out to the professional laundry sector for a site survey and quotation? There will also be the added advantage of
reducing your overall carbon footprint and helping towards your net zero emissions strategy, which a number of care homes are already flagging up as part of their marketing campaign.
The industrial laundry and textile services sector
There are almost 200 industrial laundry sites in the UK, all of whom provide linen, workwear, dust mats, and washroom
November 2023
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
services to the care sector, as well as hotels, hospitals, and commerce, on a contract or textile rental basis. A textile rental solution offers :
n Full service: n investment in the stock of textile goods;
n management of the stock according to the customer’s needs;
n pick-up of soiled items; and n delivery of professionally cleaned, repaired and quality textiles.
n Professional expertise in logistics, textile purchasing, and maintenance.
n Wide range of validated regulatory compliant products.
n Product and service solutions individually tailored to the customer’s needs.
The bottom line is that professional textile rental services provide essential measurable added value so that customers can focus on their core business.
Our contribution to net zero The industry can boast that over the last 20+ years it has achieved massive energy efficiency improvements and reduced emissions by some 25 per cent on a volume pro-rata basis. This has been achieved through major technical advancements in the industrial laundry equipment which now boast efficient variable speed electric motors, thermal insulation to prevent heat loss, optimum heat generation, distribution, and consumption, making best use of all heat recovery opportunities. Advanced chemistry and process application to reduce washing temperatures and enable closed circuit and contra-flow water controls saving bother water and energy. Consequently, water consumption has
reduced four-fold to an average of 4 litres per kg of laundry, which compares to the domestic/home washing factor of 10 litres per kg.
Here are some other very useful tools and products which will also assist your Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedures: n Antimicrobial fabric treatments for the laundering of bed linen, towels, staff uniforms, and residents clothing. These provide a residual long lasting anti-viral and anti-bacterial quality, to ensure that all fabrics are hygienically clean and do not allow the transmission of sources of infection.
n Ozone generators for water treatment, 29
laundry processing, room/air purification, and cleaning of fabric/ clothes.
n Copper-silver ionisation-based water treatment systems for controlling Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other waterborne bacteria. Water storage and distribution systems should be surveyed to ensure that that the correct equipment is specified and installed.
n Copper cover antimicrobial surface treatment for handles and push plates. This is an age-old principle of deploying the antimicrobial properties of copper, applied to surfaces using current state of the art technology.
n Laundry machinery, process specification, detergent supply, and hygiene quality diagnostics.
n
References 1
https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/infection-prevention-and- control-in-adult-social-care-settings/ infection-prevention-and-control-resource- for-adult-social-care
2
https://www.care-quality.co.uk/sales/xp/ cqc-inspections-toolkit/
Richard Newton
Richard Newton is principal of OPEQUE (Optimising Productivity by Engineering Productivity and Efficiency), a consultancy engaged in a range of activities including operational appraisal, productivity and procedures evaluation, energy audits, and legislation guidance. The care home segment of the healthcare sector is now OPEQUE’s key focus of activity, with support being provided in infection prevention and control, and operational cost reduction.
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