Curtains for Superbug
Government report recognized potential use of disposable hospital privacy curtain could help reduce hospital acquired infection.
(PRWEB) June 30, 2005 -- An official report released today recognizes the
potential usefulness of a simple disposable hospital patient privacy curtain.
For years we have been cleaning bedside lockers, disinfecting mattresses
and mopping floors then surrounding the patient with the same old dirty curtains
that, in some cases, haven’t been changed for over a year. The detrimental
effects of this have been felt no more than on doctors’ ward rounds when
patients are screened off to have wounds examined and ‘invasive’ procedures such
as the insertion of drips and catheters applied. At these times the level of
dust or ‘dead skin’ in the air has been recorded at record levels as curtains
are routinely ‘swished’ around the patient.
The Centre for Healthcare
Innovation and Development have independently audited the new system and
discovered that, in a typical 1000 bedded hospital, savings in excess of £200,00
can be achieved in year one alone, when compared to using conventional
curtains.
Laurence Marshall, Chief Executive of the Midlands based
company that invented and manufactures the product stated ‘We are bound by
contract not to comment on the governments findings but suffice it to say we are
delighted by any report that confirms what we have been telling the hospitals
for years.’ He added ‘The curtains are about 100 times quicker to fit than
normal curtains, are self-auditing by virtue of the fact that they have a big
label showing patients and staff alike exactly when they were last changed,
they’re independently proven to be cost effective and now they can be coated
with a bactericidal that gives a form of ‘second line of defence’ by actively
killing bacteria whilst the curtains are in situ.’
Hospitals in the
private sector have rapidly recognized the financial benefits of the system that
eliminates the massive capital cost of purchasing normal curtains and gets rid
of the ongoing laundry costs whilst dramatically reducing labour.
In the
NHS it takes a lot longer to introduce new ideas because, although the savings
are obvious, it’s not always that easy for them to see who is making the saving.
Nevertheless, well over 100 hospitals are now using the system that is set to
become the best practice available and should significantly contribute in the
battle against hospital acquired infections.
For further information
Contact:
Laurence Marshall
0121 783 5777
(Office)
07800685771
Source of Report
Rapid Revue Panel
Health
Protection Agency Central Office
7th Floor
Holborn Gate
330 High
Holborn
London
WC1V 7PP
Tel: 020 7759 2700 / 2701
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb256561.htm