A robot cleaner at work at BTH
A high-tech new cleaning ‘robot’ has joined the team at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust has partnered with its cleaning and support services provider, Medirest, to introduce the robot, which replaces a more traditional ‘floor scrubber’ machine.
Medirest worked with cleaning innovation specialist, Killis, to develop the technology which is ideally suited to the large open areas in hospitals.
The team has been successfully trialling three of the robots within other partner hospitals for just over a year, and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals’ own robot will begin work in the next few weeks following a period of planning.
The robot will support the hospital’s team of cleaners, to enhance repetitive cleaning procedures in open spaces such as corridors, freeing up other team members to focus on touch point and cross-infection hot-spots.
The robot will still be accompanied by a member of the cleaning and support services team, who will monitor the device and carry out high and low-level cleaning as the robot scrubs the floor.
The technology incorporates a scrubber dryer system, which typically uses 70% less water and fewer chemicals than traditional cleaning methods.
Yvonne Widdows, Deputy Director Facilities, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, said: “We saw the technology demonstrated and felt it was an excellent innovation.
“It will help replace what is traditionally a much larger piece of equipment, and assist the cleaning teams – between the team and the technology, the work is quicker and more effective.
“We’re expecting the robot to begin working within the next four weeks and we’re sure it will get a positive reaction from both staff and visitors to the site as they see it in operation.”
Anna Hallas, National Domestic Lead for Medirest, added: “Following independent trials with three hospitals, our teams have come to the same conclusion that the robot technology has delivered improved quality, consistency of cleaning, productivity and fantastic reaction from staff and visitors to the hospitals. This tech will really help our other team members focus on the more intricate and in-depth cleaning, so we’re thrilled to introduce this at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.”