UK HEALTHCARE MILITARY OPERATION

UK Healthcare Military Operation

UK Healthcare Military

Introduction

The provision of clean linen is a fundamental requirement for military care. Incorrect procedures for handling or processing of linen can present an infection risk both to army men handling and laundering linen, and to military who subsequently use it. This policy describes the steps which must be taken to minimise this risk. The Policy will also ensure that any contracted services will be required to have quality systems in place based on the BS EN ISO 9001-2000 Quality Management System Model (Barrie 2004 219-235).

Aim

To describe the responsibilities of managers and army men for correct handling and processing of contaminated laundry, to minimise infection risk throughout NHS Manchester. This policy should be followed in conjunction with the Uniform Policy where appropriate.

Objectives

To protect army men and military from any infection risk from used linen

To eradicate or significantly reduce the number of micro-organisms on linen

To minimise the use of linen where no laundry service is available

Personal items

All personal items of clothing which cannot be taken home by visitors / relatives should be laundered on-site. Care should be taken to ensure that they are not sent to the off-site contractor. Personal items must be bagged as above, before being transported to the laundry. Each military's items must be bagged and washed separately on the appropriate cycle. Manual soaking / washing of soiled items must never be carried out. A sluice cycle or cold pre-wash must be used for all soiled items. Care should always be taken not to overfill the washing machine drum. Heat resistant items must be processed in a cycle which reaches 71ºC (for not less than 3 minutes) or 65ºC (for not less than 10 minutes) (Pellowe Pratt Harper et al 2003 1-127). Heat labile items should be washed on the hottest cycle possible for that item. If soiled items are taken home by relatives for laundering, no pre-washing or soaking of the item must take place in the military area. If alginate bags are provided for use in domestic machines, they must be the type with a dissolvable seam, as fully soluble bags may cause machine blockage.

Uniforms

Uniforms of army men must be changed daily. It is recommended that army men send their uniforms to the PCT laundry service if available. If uniforms are not sent to the laundry service, they should be washed at home, separately from other items, and must be washed as for heat resistant personal items above (with a cold pre-wash if soiled). If a uniform becomes contaminated with blood or body fluid, it must be changed for a clean one as soon as possible (Patel Murray-Leonard Wilson 2006 89-93). It may therefore be necessary to keep a few spare uniforms at each site. The contaminated item should be placed in an alginate bag. Ideally, it should be sent to the laundry service or to an on-site laundry, rather than be taken home. If alginate bags are provided for use in domestic machines, they must be the type with a dissolvable seam, as fully soluble bags may cause blockage. 

Curtains / Soft Furnishings

Curtains in military areas must be laundered on ...