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Focusing on bedpan systems

Vernacare, synonymous with infection control in the healthcare sector, has produced a new brochure for key decision makers across PFI and other new build initiatives – the brochure outlines the pros and cons for sites faced with making the important choice of whether to use reusable or disposable bedpans, urinals and bowls.

Since the introduction of the single use system of bedpans, urinals and bowls, 80% of UK hospitals have switched from using plastic reusable products and automated washerdisinfectors, says the company. Following the introduction of Health Technical Memorandum 2030, which includes the testing schedules required of washer-disinfectors to ensure efficiency and safety, hospitals have had to fund the purchase of testing equipment and ongoing labour cost to implement daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly testing. There are cost implications for the ongoing replacement of plastic reusable products as they deteriorate over time due to the high temperatures required in the washerdisinfectors. Hospitals may have concerns about washer-disinfectors not performing at an optimum level and therefore costing more to run and possibly posing a cross-infection risk. The comparable cost of purchasing washer-disinfectors and macerator units for disposing of pulp products varies by project and supplier, the company says, adding that it should be noted that while the disposable system incurs the ongoing costs for the purchase of single use pulp receptacles, these costs are negated by the high maintenance costs of washerdisinfectors, the reduced risk of crossinfection and savings made on nursing time. Hospital trials and analysis of ongoing costs show macerators on average to be more economical in terms of utility cost /maintenance costs, and savings of up to 30% can be achieved versus a reusable system, Vernacare states. Pulp products have now been categorised as medical devices in the EU. This change in status has given rise to speculation that the supports used in conjunction with the pulp bed and slipper pans are also medical devices and as such will require autoclaving after each patient use, says the company, which draws attention to how MHRA clearly states that: “The plastic bedpan support should not be classified as a medical device.” Therefore, there is no need for autoclaving provided it is used with a pulp liner, Vernacare says.

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