LINEN MANAGER

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MESSAGE BOARD LAST UPDATED 01/07/2008

Training

HCA host one day seminar "Seeking excellence through performance management"  Further details  (click here).

Training

The Society has linked with the TAG (Training Advisory Group) to host a 3 day training event. This will be an excellent oppurtunity for

those responsible for monitoring linen services, who have little or no experience. The sessions will enable discussion and comparison involving good

practice techniques. Provisional dates 19 -21st  November 2008, venue around Birmingham. Further details upon request.

Contract Monitoring

A presentation on contract Monitoring was recently given. Several members from the Midlands region were in attendance. Further details are

available. info@linenmanager.co.uk

Conference & exhibition

The 2008 Conference & exhibition has been an outstanding success. All papers were extremely well attended, and all feedback has been extremely

 favouable. Exhibition stands at the 2009 conference are now being allocated. Contact Phil Liversidge for further details.  01535 655129.

Full details of conference can be found  on the conference page.

Membership Subscriptions.

Membership subscriptions for 2008 are now due (£35)

Good Practice guide

All members should have received their copy of the Best Practice guide and 2008 diary, if not contact your regional chairman.Copies have now

been sent to trust Chief executives, and some positive feedback has been received.

Regional Meetings : (Further details in members area)

North West & Yorkshire: Next meeting

Wednesday 24^th September 2008 Skopos, West Yorkshire

Wednesday 19^th November 2008

North East: Next meetings

Wednesday 24^th September at 10.00 am at University Hospital of North Tees

Wednesday 17^th December at 10.00 am at Darlington Memorial Hospital

(Details from Reg Ramsden 01642 624046 )

Scotland region. Next meeting to take place at Wishaw, West of Scotland Laundry on 8^th October 2008.

Northern Ireland: (Details from Tom Nelson 028 276 61296)

HSG(95)18  Guidelines for processing Healthcare textiles. (click here).

Firecode HTM 87  Gudelines on textiles suitable for use in Healthcare premises. (click here).

Curtain Alert!

Advice has now been issued from the Department of Health regarding the flame retardency of curtains   (click here).

Society Mailing :

If you wish to be included on the Society’s mailing list, If you are a supplier or a manager requiring information.

Then please email / write or phone your details. info@linenmanager.co.uk

Uniform & Workwear guidance

After a long wait, the guidance document from the Department of Health has now been published. ((click here).

Uniform: an evidence review of the microbiological significance of uniforms and uniform policy in the prevention

and control of healthcare-associated infections. Report to the Department of Health (England)  ((click here).

National Occupational standards

Essential for the introduction of NVQ’s for linen service staff. Details upon request.

2007 Conference & Exhibition

Medical Devices Alert (www.mhra.gov.uk) MDA/2007/031

Laundering of Hoists and Slings are again causing problems, check to ensure you know what to do.

Conference 2007 Papers

PASA Framework agreement.

Details available and members comments. email info@linenmanager.co.uk

Health Service Journal more information on cleaning contracts.

 ((click here).

Health Service Journal calls for return of inhouse cleaning.

 ((click here).

Vat:

 (click here).

Storage of bleach:

See what advice the Hse gave to one health Authority. ((click here).

Training.

Email for details of planned courses info@linenmanager.co.uk

Guidance on Uniforms and Clothing worn in the delivery of Patient care.

Anyone requiring a copy of this useful guidance, published by the RCN should email info@linenmanager.co.uk

Agenda for change - gradings

Several managers have sent details of staff gradings - see members area. (click here).

Training courses

               i) Essential hygiene training for laundry staff (1 day)

               ii) Linen services for contract monitors. (1 day)

Job Profiles   National profiles have now been written for Linen Room Assistants, Sewing Room Assistants and

Laundry Supervisors  (click here).

Laundering advice for curtains.  (click here).

North East (Draft) Contingency plan.  (click  here).

Paper on "Survival of Enterococci during hospital laundry processing.

Paper by Kathy Orr, Department of Microbiology, Freeman hospital.

New Standard

BS EN ISO 22612:2005 Clothing for protection against infectious agents - Test method for resistance to dry

microbial penetration. Further details upon request.

New Standards (BS EN 13795-1 :2002)

Surgical drapes, gowns & clean air suits, used as medical devices, for Patients, clinical staff and equipment.

Part 1 General requirements for manufacture, process & products.

BS EN 14065 :2002

Textiles – laundry processed textiles – Bio contamination control systems.

BS ISO 9398  1-4 2003

Definitions and testing of capacity and consumption characteristics for: Flatwork ironing machines, Batch drying

tumblers, Washing tunnels

 & Washer extractors.

BS EN 13726

Test methods for primary wound dressings – waterproof, conformity, odour control

  BS EN 3175

Professional care, dry-cleaning & wet cleaning o fabrics & garments.

Dirty little secrets

An article published in THE TIMES (04/12/2002) highlighted the need for National standards in the processing

of health care linen. Reference was made to the Watt report, which followed the salmonella incident at Victoria

hospital, Glasgow, where a recommendation was that all staff uniforms should be laundered on site. Other

reference was made to National  Audit office report, European Standard on bio-contamination and the way in

which the French perceive our industry developing.

Market Share

The Society hold a database showing the market share of NHS work by each supplier. (Further details available)

Benchmarking information

Proforma & Example of cost base (see information page)

Medical Devices Agency

The use of cotton or polyester / cotton blends will not be banned. Factors to be considered when deciding whether or

not to adopt the EU standard will involve, type of surgical procedure & assessment of risk involved. Priority of fabric

properties desired, fluid resistance, liquid absorption, processing requirements, sterilization, laundry finishes, cost

& expected life. Further details available.