Study: UK Nursing Home OPLs Unreliable

Berendsen PLC, London, recently commissioned research that indicates that on-site residential and nursing home laundries are inefficient at best. Over 60% of the facilities, or “care homes” in the United Kingdom (UK) reported that washing equipment is causing the most trouble for residents, employees and owners. Over 50% say their machines break down every six months, with some malfunctioning up to four times a year.

The effects of a breakdown on costs and deliveries of clean goods are significant, says Berendsen in an online nursing magazine, in addition to the disruption that it causes to residents and staff. One in seven facilities consider their laundry services ineffective, and a large number also reports the laundering process is too time-consuming. Nearly two-thirds of facility managers would like to make changes to their laundries, according to the study conducted by Market Measures Ltd.

Jerry Richardson, business development director for UK Care Homes at Berendsen said, “Many care homes don’t realize the cost, time and hassle involved with operating an on-site laundry. And for most, it’s long been considered the only option. But partnering with a laundry and linen services provider helps to free up both staff time and valuable space in the care home, as well as reducing costs and stress for staff and residents.” There are more options today for high-quality and reliable laundry services, says Richardson, with new tracking technology and best practice recommendations to contain infection.

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