Amongst Vernacare’s recent innovations is a unique patented detergent proof disposable wash bowl, recently awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation.
The world’s first single-use pulp wash bowl, capable of holding both warm water and detergent, was developed collaboratively alongside NHS clinicians to avoid the infection risk of re-using traditional plastic bowls. The wash bowl is now used by more than a third of NHS Hospitals, and by a growing number of hospitals globally.
Karen Haslam, Chief Executive of Vernacare, said: “This is a huge honour for our business and staff, and for the hospital clinicians who helped us to develop the product. We are very proud that our wash bowl is at the forefront of the NHS drive to reduce hospital acquired infections, and that this achievement has been recognised by the Queen and Prime Minister. The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are made annually by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, and are granted for five years.
The Washbowl is often used as part of a series of measures that hospital trusts take to reduce levels of hospital acquired infections, and detailed evaluation of the Vernacare wash bowl across four hospitals showed that 98.5% of nurses agreed that the bowl reduced the likelihood of infection.
Vernacare also showcased their new range of Tuffie 5 multi-surface wipes, now available in new ‘greener’ flexible packaging. Vernacare have reduced the cost of their Tuffie 5 wipes by up to 30%, whilst also reducing their packaging waste by 70% through introducing these new formats. An accompanying wall mounted dispenser system also helps prevent over usage and give clinicians control over how many wipes they dispense each time; a common problem across the wider healthcare sector. The new packaging has been developed in partnership with clinicians across the NHS through a 12 month design and development phase.
Tuffie 5 itself is seen as a major step forward in infection control as an all-in-one cleaning and disinfecting wipe that eradicates all five major groups of pathogens, including Clostridium difficile, Norovirus and MRSA amongst many others. It is also certified to be effective against the H1N1 (swine flu) and NDM-1 viruses.
The pre-impregnated wipes avoid nurse time spent preparing chlorine disinfecting solutions and help trusts meet NHS Saving Lives Initiative ‘High Impact Intervention No7’ for cleaning in the event of an outbreak. Tuffie 5 begins to work instantly on contact, and provides a long lasting barrier against airborne spores. Tests showing that its disinfecting properties continue to work for over 12 hours after the initial cleaning has taken place.
Vernacare continues to innovate in line with the NHS Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention Challenge (QIPP). The company is currently researching new infection prevention product requirements among its customers in the NHS and globally, with a view to further collaboration on new product development.
