Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Sir Tigger KC]

... if they are not washed and reused ... why are they called "scrubs" ........

Quite.  It would be more appropriate to call them Chucks. 

[Lizzie Zoom]

I do not understand why you are all saying scrubs are not washed.

They are as part of the normal regime in hospitals.

As for the plastic PPE items, have you all tried washing plastic in a washing machine at the highest temperature you need to kill all the nasties?

In short plastic becomes horribly distorted and  completely unusable.  Even the face masks would fall apart or lose their ability to restrict the "cleaning" quality they must have due to their construction as they are washed at very high temperatures.

We are not talking about PPE, or scrubs, just being chucked on multiple occasions into a domestic washing machine at 40 degrees C and be fine for use thereafter.  Is life of a patient worth less than a bit of plastic?

 

[Sir Tigger KC]

I'm sure there are other suitable materials that gowns and aprons for example could be made from, that protect the wearer and can be washed and sterilised. 

I thought we were being encouraged not to use cheap single use plastic. 

[STEMO]

... if they are not washed and reused ... why are they called "scrubs" ........

They are washed and reused.

[Sir Tigger KC]

... if they are not washed and reused ... why are they called "scrubs" ........

They are washed and reused.

Well obviously some are some aren't.... 

[STEMO]

... if they are not washed and reused ... why are they called "scrubs" ........

They are washed and reused.

Well obviously some are some aren't.... 

Proper, cotton scrubs are washed and reused. Anything plastic is not scrubs really.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Wouldn't need to boil wash plastic to kill nasties. Just spray it with, or dip it in, a chemical which kills the nasties.

[Doctor Gollum]

I do not understand why you are all saying scrubs are not washed.

They are as part of the normal regime in hospitals.

As for the plastic PPE items, have you all tried washing plastic in a washing machine at the highest temperature you need to kill all the nasties?

In short plastic becomes horribly distorted and  completely unusable.  Even the face masks would fall apart or lose their ability to restrict the "cleaning" quality they must have due to their construction as they are washed at very high temperatures.

We are not talking about PPE, or scrubs, just being chucked on multiple occasions into a domestic washing machine at 40 degrees C and be fine for use thereafter.  Is life of a patient worth less than a bit of plastic?

 

There's plenty of other ways to clean full face masks etc so that they don't need to binned after five minutes.

You could also do away with gloves in the main. Using a pair of non recyclable disposable gloves every patient is a complete waste when they could easily be replaced with robust hand sanitising procedures and proper cleaning.

Obviously there are circumstances where gloves are appropriate. The debate here isn't about the value of life or the environment, but rather the indemic waste within the NHS, as highlighted by the current situation.

I would wager that in hospital infection rates are higher today than they were 60 years ago.

[biggriffin]

Wouldn't need to boil wash plastic to kill nasties. Just spray it with, or dip it in, a chemical which kills the nasties.

 10%+ solution of bleach does that.

 Another fault of the modern Health service is they allow staff to come into work, and leave wearing scrubs etc,,,, That needs to be stopped, also lots of Hospital don't have a washing room anymore it's been contracted out.

[Doctor Gollum]

More waste.

[biggriffin]

More waste.

 The NHS are top of the shop for waste, that isn't just the rubbish side either.

[Doctor Gollum]

Squanderage is possibly a clearer term

[biggriffin]

Squanderage is possibly a clearer term

 That too.