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More storage focus for linen user group
26/04/05
More storage for linen on wards will increase the efficiency of Tauranga Hospital’s laundry system.
Linen user group Project Owner John-David Thomas says process mapping by group members revealed that the system used by the hospital to launder everything from sheets and towels to pyjamas, theatre gowns and sterile packs was working efficiently.
“What we discovered is that because there is a general shortage of storage on wards, linen cupboards are being used for storing everything but linen, which means we’re competing for space. Our suggestion is to incorporate two linen areas in each ward, which not only will mean better storage, it will also mean less walking for nurses.”
The contract to manage laundry services at Tauranga Hospital is managed by Taylors, which operates from Waikato Hospital. A van delivers clean linen to Tauranga Hospital at midnight, returning to Hamilton with a load of soiled linen.
The lack of storage on wards means Taylors staff who work on-site have to make more trips to top up supplies. Increasing storage on wards will mean fewer trips each day, John-David says. Having adequate storage will also enable Taylors staff to top up supplies for the weekend when there is no linen service. Currently wards occasionally run out of some items during weekends and extra supplies are delivered to the wards by orderlies.
John-David Thomas says the user group looked at other laundry options but discovered they were more labour intensive and would cost more money to operate. “Our system is working well so we decided if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”
One of the group’s most challenging tasks was to find a new home for the linen bulk stores and also for other back of house services (cleaning, clinical and general waste services). These services are all currently situated in the old laundry, which is being taken over by the stores and purchasing department.
“Doing this and ensuring it was future proofed was probably more of a challenge than looking at existing systems,” John-David says.
Linen bulk stores will occupy a small part of the existing stores, on the ground level, close to the loading docks. Clinical and general waste services will also share this area. Because part of this space has also been earmarked by IT, the space available for linen stores is smaller than was originally hoped.
“We’ve had to reduce the space but use it more efficiently,” John-David says.
Cleaning will relocate to the basement.