[Mahachi, Edith]

Hi

These are the standards we follow here in England. Clinical hand wash basins must be designated to hand washing only. Below is the paragraph from our policy:

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE HAND HYGIENE IN CLINICAL SETTINGS

All hand wash basins and taps in clinical areas must conform to the requirements of HTM 64 (2006) which outlines the minimum requirements for such equipment. This includes the need for:

Elbow / wrist / automatically operated lever taps

Mixer taps ensuring that water is delivered at an appropriate temperature

Basins without plugs or overflows

Taps that are situated so that water does not flow directly into the waste outlet but are off-set

It is a requirement of the Care Quality Commission (during the registration / inspection process) that when facilities are built or are refurbished that all hand wash equipment will comply with HTM 64.

The following basic principles also apply:

A separate designated hand washing basin i.e. not used to wash instruments/cups etc, should be available where-ever clinical activity takes place

Edith
Infection Prevention and Control Nurse Specialist
Basildon Hospital
Ext 1644/blp 6310

________________________________

Hi Fiona,

Thanks for that. Beth is away today so I thought I’d clarify our enquiry on the clinical hand wash basins:

We’re specifically enquiring as to whether anyone is aware of Australian guidance stipulating that clinical hand wash basins are used for hand hygiene and hand hygiene alone ie cannot be used for the disposal of any other liquid waste (such as denture pot contents, wash bowl contents etc) or the cleaning of items such as dentures, medicine pots, enteral feeding equipment etc. We have been unable to find such a statement in our NSW, Commonwealth or AHFG reading.

The reason for asking about the washing machines is that the arguments about ‘discriminating against patients who have no family / friends / other way to get their personal items laundered’, particularly for our haem / onc fairly long term people who live a distance away, do have credence and our volunteers are particularly concerned. We want to be sure that any laundry facilities we do have comply with AS/NZS 4146 as stipulated in the IC policy and so are developing an audit tool and business rules etc.

I hope this clarifies the enquiry.

Jo

Nurse Manager, Infection Management and Control Service (IMACS)

Level 1, Lawson House

The Wollongong Hospital

LMB 8808

SCMC NSW 2521

Hi Beth,

Refer to the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines, Part D- Infection Prevention and Control http://www.healthfacilityguidelines.com.au/

This document provides information on the four different types of basins required in a hospital and their specific uses. Also the AHFG provide room layout ‘standard components’ sheets which also tell you what type of hand basin is required including its purpose.

Although you may not be undertaking any renovations / building works the infection prevention and control section is still sound advice and is mandatory for NSW (it is listed in the front of the NSW Health PD2007_036).

I can’t help you on the laundering of patient clothing as we specifically removed all patient washing machines and clothes dryers a number of years ago.

Kind Regards,

Fiona De Sousa

Infection Prevention & Control Coordinator

Sydney Adventist Hospital

Fiona.Desousa@sah.org.au

185 Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga, NSW, 2076

________________________________

Hi All

Clinical Hand Basins

Does any one know of any Australian guidelines/standards/policies that state: clinical hand basins are only to be used for hand hygiene purposes?

Laundering of Patient Clothing Guidelines

Does anyone have a local policy/procedure/guideline for the laundering of patient clothing within a healthcare facility that you would like to share?

Thank you

Beth

Beth Bint | Clinical Nurse Consultant Infection Prevention and Control,

Infection Management and Control Service (IMACS)

The Wollongong Hospital|( ph +61 2 4222 5869 page 182 via switch+61 2 4222 5000| * beth.bint@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

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