The Surgical Service of the Consorci Sanitari Integral Hospitals (Hospital General de l'Hospitalet, Hospital Sant Joan Despí and Hospital Dos de Maig) have started replacing single-use cotton clothing with a fabric approved reusable. It is an initiative that is part of the European regulation UNE EN 13795 which recommends the use of this type of textile, while respecting the environment and reducing the generation of waste. The action is a sample more of the Consorci Sanitari Integral's commitment to the sustainable development objectives (ODS) and the 2030 Agenda.
According to a study carried out by Axioma solutions and Inèdit, on the analysis of the life cycle of these products, every time it is used a reusable gown saves between 65% and 80% of carbon dioxide emissions, with respect to the alternative of the same single-use clothing.
The surgical gowns and pajamas that the CSI professionals will use are made from technical fabrics that guarantee protection and durability of the technical properties during 75 wash cycles. These tissues, considered health products and duly certified by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS), they prevent the transmission of infectious agents between patients and clinical staff during surgical procedures and others invasive procedures. It is a textile produced in Catalonia, and the laundry service is also local.
Therefore, this replacement involves the hiring of a service, which has been awarded through a public procurement file. Unlike what was done until now, the clothes are not bought, since it is necessary to guarantee that the washing meets the certified conditions, nor is the laundry hired. In this case, you pay for your use. Therefore, the service includes:
- Assignment and maintenance of dispensing and returning machines. These will function as warehouse points avoiding costs for purchasing management, stock control and spaces (in Warehouse and Rober)
- Replenishment at each warehouse point (the necessary to ensure the appropriate provision depending on the activity).
- Control and removal of damaged or deteriorated parts
- Control of the traceability of clothing, (from the preparation of the clothes for their location, to situation reports through computer application)
Traceability helps control garments (losses, misuse...) and allows to achieve informació in relation to the number of washes, when these determine the degree of protection of the garment or fabric.
This sustainable initiative is part of a project to improve the uniformity of all the centers that make up the Integral Health Consortium. And all of this is framed in the renovation of the image of the professionals linked to the change of image and logo that took place at the end of 2020.
The Consorci Sanitari Integral is a public entity with the majority participation of the Catalan Health Service, the town councils of Sant Joan Despí and Hospitalet de Llobregat, the Regional Council of Baix Llobregat and the Red Cross.
