United Kingdom
A really positive result of the crisis is that some of the amazingly important workers are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Now the Textile Services Association (TSA) wants to remind the country of another group of amazing people. They are key workers who support the key healthcare workers. It is the 4,000 laundry workers who wash the NHS's soiled laundry. Most of them work in commercial laundries across the country and do important work that is both hard and largely unconfirmed.
"I hope if we all clap for our healthcare workers on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., these people will also be in people's minds," said David Stevens, CEO of TSA.
Building a new commercial healthcare laundry will cost many millions of pounds. "The only way to ensure a hygienic product and ensure decontamination is through the combination of heat and chemical disinfection, all of which are precisely controlled with the latest technology," says Stevens. “Employees have to adhere to strict procedures. One area where we've seen a massive surge is the demand for peeling suits – just over a million were added to NHS trusts in just over two weeks. "
Synergy LMS Healthcare is one of the most important laundry service providers in the NHS. The company has just launched a brand new healthcare laundry in Mere Grange, St. Helens, for several million pounds. Sue Swales, Group Customer Experience Director, cannot praise the team enough there.
"We have a large number of local healthcare workers who wear full PPE for their safety," she said. “These people are all doing an incredible job in really worrying times. They really did the extra mile to put our new facility into operation from a standing start to a very short high pressure timescale.
"Everyone at Synergy is working hard to support the NHS during this time," she says. “Infection control is more important today than ever. That is why laundries serving the NHS must have the highest hygiene standards. Our employees work very hard to ensure that we adhere to strict health guidelines.
"There is no doubt that they and all 4,000 laundry workers serving the NHS deserve a big greeting."
The TSA is currently working with the government to investigate how the laundry industry can help address PSA shortages by switching to reusable products that can be washed and reused with absolute certainty.
"We have 24,000 laundry workers on leave," says Stevens. “Their laundries served the hotel and sports industries. We can reuse these commercial laundries to help the NHS overcome the crisis. "
