Infection prevention is a critical component of hospital infection control strategies, and effective waste management plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal. Hospitals are environments where the risk of infection is high due to the presence of vulnerable patients and the frequent handling of potentially infectious materials. Therefore, implementing robust waste management practices can significantly reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections.
The Role of Disposable Bedpans and Bedpan Macerators
Disposable bedpans and bedpan macerators are increasingly recognized as superior solutions for infection control in healthcare settings. Here’s why:
Hygiene and Infection Control
Unlike reusable bedpans, disposable bedpans eliminate the risk of cross-contamination as they are used once and then disposed of. This practice aligns with the infection prevention principle of minimising contact with potentially contaminated materials.
Efficiency and Convenience
Bedpan macerators efficiently process disposable bedpans by breaking them down into a fine slurry that can be safely flushed away. This not only simplifies waste disposal but also ensures that waste is handled in a closed system, reducing the risk of exposure to infectious agents.
Environmental Benefits
While disposable products might seem environmentally unfriendly, modern disposable bedpans are often made from biodegradable materials that break down more easily than traditional plastics. Additionally, macerators reduce the volume of waste, leading to less environmental impact compared to traditional disposal methods.
Operational Advantages
Hospitals benefit from the reduced need for cleaning and sterilisation of reusable bedpans, leading to lower labor costs and freeing up staff to focus on patient care. Furthermore, the quick and efficient disposal process minimises downtime in sluice rooms, enhancing overall hospital operations.
Patient Preference
Patients often prefer disposable bedpans due to their single-use nature, which provides reassurance about hygiene and cleanliness. This can improve patient satisfaction and confidence in the care they receive.
Cost-Effectiveness for Healthcare Institutions
The NHS spends more than £700m each year on waste disposal. The vast majority of this was spent in the disposal of clinical waste. It is clear that this figure is constantly on the rise but also that there are many ways in which the NHS could benefit from more efficient waste disposal solutions that are available from specialist companies across the UK.
Adopting disposable bedpans and bedpan macerators can be more cost-effective for healthcare institutions in the long run:
Reduced Cleaning Costs
The elimination of the need for cleaning and sterilizing reusable bedpans leads to significant savings in terms of water, energy, and labor costs.
Lower Infection Rates
By reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired infections, hospitals can save on the costs associated with treating these infections, including extended hospital stays and additional medical treatments.
Maintenance and Reliability
Modern bedpan macerators are designed for reliability and ease of maintenance, ensuring high uptime and reducing the need for costly repairs or replacements.
Infection Control: Other Considerations
A GPT Waste Management White Paper, Cost savings for healthcare estates delivered through improved waste management, states that “Poor management of medical waste potentially exposes hospital staff, healthcare workers, waste handlers, patients and the community at large to infection, toxic effects and injuries, and risks polluting the environment. It is essential that the person responsible for managing the waste within each healthcare establishment fully understands its waste streams and the correct methods of disposal for each stream.”
There are numerous trials in action whose objective it is to provide more efficient waste management strategies in the myriad relevant NHS departments. One such trial was carried out recently at St Woolos Hospital, Newport. This involved looking at a brand new method of treating sterilisation wrap as used in operating theatres worldwide to package surgical instruments and equipment to protect them from bacteria and other airborne contaminants. During the trial a ‘Sterimelt’ machine made by Thermal Compaction Group was put into action to produce sanitised briquettes from the polypropylene in the wrap. The machine heated the wrap (two tonnes per month as used in this hospital alone!) in order to decrease the volume of the sheets and create a material that can be repurposed to be used in a wide range of products, from blankets to ropes and chairs or stationary. The savings as a result of this project were £1,000 per month, not to mention the environmental benefits.
Much of the clinical waste in NHS hospitals is dealt with by industrial macerators, many of which are outdated and inefficient. The potential for problems in using outdated macerators are many – from increased smell, leading to decreased staff morale and the risk of infection to downtime and costly repairs. There are some truly outstanding new macerators that are tailor-made for healthcare situations, like the Haigh Quattro and Solo which are small, safe and quiet, offering enhanced convenience and effectiveness for carers, ensuring smooth operation hundreds of times per day. By upgrading to such high quality, quiet and ultra-efficient macerators, a sluice room can become a much more efficient place for waste disposal across a wealth of different NHS environments.
Single use instrument recycling is another effective and environmentally friendly waste disposal solution for NHS hospitals. Most single-use metal instruments are, quite appallingly, disposed of via high temperature incineration, then landfill. There are both cost and carbon benefits to moving to a recycling model. Overall waste disposal efficiency in NHS hospitals could be greatly enhanced by properly and correctly and accurately segregating waste. Sometimes, when complacency has crept in and resources are stretched to their limits, the best way to implement change is to get outside help from specialist waste disposal companies to help to come up with a plan to eradicate inefficiency.
Considering the benefits outlined above and these broader considerations, this is why at Haigh we firmly believe that integrating disposable bedpans and bedpan macerators into hospital waste management systems is a strategic move towards enhancing infection prevention, improving environmental sustainability, optimising hospital operations, and ultimately reducing costs. These benefits make them an attractive option for healthcare institutions aiming to improve their infection control practices.
Get in contact with us to find out how you can bring these infection control benefits to your operation.