Flooring is a crucial element in healthcare settings, so choosing the most appropriate materials, and employing the correct cleaning methods, should be high on the list of priorities for all healthcare estate managers, as Lesley Davis, a regional area manager at supplier of industrial and commercial floor cleaning machines, Truvox International, explains.
There are certain things in life that we can steer clear of, thanks to free will, but contact with healthcare professionals is something none of us can avoid. Whether it is a trip to the dentist, a routine operation, or a visit to a residential home to see an elderly relative, everyone’s life is punctuated, at one level or another, with regular visits to healthcare settings. This puts healthcare firmly under the microscope in terms of public, political, and media attention – and the cleaning of healthcare facilities is inextricably linked to the levels of clinical care provided, and thus also to perceptions surrounding service delivery. Flooring thus has a lot to live up to when it comes to healthcare environments; in fact it is hard to think of any other location where floor surfaces are expected to deliver so much.
Harsh treatment
Flooring materials have to withstand some extremely harsh treatment, not just from the constant heavy footfall of people working in, visiting, or using, the facilities, but also through the movement of equipment such as beds, trolleys, and various items of medical machinery. The floor is expected to provide a safe environment for staff, patients, and visitors, minimising the risks of slips and trips, but cushioning and protecting them from serious injury if the worst happens. Equally, with staff spending a significant part of sometimes long shifts on their feet, flooring is also expected to deliver an ergonomic surface that can help to ease repetitive stresses and strains. A facility manager’s wish list does not stop there, though. Hospital flooring needs to be long-lasting, and easy to clean and maintain, and to help prevent the spread of infections. There is also an emerging desire to make hospitals seem less institutional, and to provide a more welcoming environment, so decorative qualities are another important consideration. Flooring also, increasingly, needs to have proven ‘green’, sustainable credentials – and all the above requirements must be delivered in the most cost-effective way possible. Although this may sound like a huge task, specific research, technological developments, and a commitment from hospital Trusts, facilities managers, and manufacturers of flooring and cleaning equipment, are all helping to deliver improved performance and results.
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