When infection control technical adviser at Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust, Linda Ward, saw Hoshizaki DCM ice dispensers in an American Hotel she decided to invest in several of the machines to be installed throughout the four hospitals within the Trust.
“Ice and/or water are released by the gentlest touch of a plastic beaker,” she explained. “Even though we actively encourage staff, patients and visitors to wash their hands frequently, we are aware that this does not always happen. Therefore, to know that contact between hand and drink is unnecessary as ice is dispensed straight into the glass or beaker is very good news.”
As well as being a compact and energy efficient ice maker (all water entering the machine is turned into ice), the DCM uses a very hygienic method of manufacture. The ice moves directly to the storage hopper as soon as it is made meaning that it has no contact with light or air until dispensed. Also, ambient air is prevented from entering the storage hopper by a close fitting lid and a rubber diaphragm on the dispense mechanism ensuring the hygienic integrity of the ice.