The NHS doesn't want its property returned.

Nilrem

I would imagine the primary reason for them not wanting blankets etc back from care homes and the like is fairly simple.

Infection control and admin costs.

They already have to routinely test incoming patents from care homes etc for things like MRSI and other infections that are found in much higher levels than normal in care/residential homes, so I would imagine they'd have the same issue with returning sheets (treat them as a possible source of serious infection as they can't guarantee how they've been handled).

Hence it's probably cheaper to write them off than get them booked via a specially manned office (as I suspect even if clean reception won't have time/space to deal with them, and I doubt it would be practical to book them in via the same method as new, known sterile items), especially as it's likely to be a fairly small number of items per year compared to say "wastage" due to visible biological contamination, accidental damage or basic wear and tear (I suspect the average hospital blanket probably lasts less than a year if getting washed daily).

There are times when seeming to "waste" money is actually cheaper than trying to save it in a manner that results in additional hidden costs.

Nick_C

Why cant a returned blanket or sheet just be sent straight to the laundry to be washed and re-use, as it would have been if it had come from a ward?

Nick_C

... And it's not just sheets and blankets. They don't want crutches back either!

Andy_L

Nick_C wrote: »

Why cant a returned blanket or sheet just be sent straight to the laundry to be washed and re-use, as it would have been if it had come from a ward?

A lot of hospitals have their laundry done off site by contract cleaners. Some don't even own their own linnin but have it all provided under the same contract

robatwork

It's endemic, and symptomatic of the NHS being poorly run and the staff being too busy to be bothered. My father was lent a nebuliser from a large London hospital. This was a big expensive device costing hundreds of pounds. It was new and sealed.

He never used it so it was still sealed in its packaging a few years ago when he died.

I contacted the hospital several times. I spoke to the department on the phone. I emailled the contacts on the nebuliser. I was promised a call back on several occasions, but nobody would confirm they wanted it to be returned or where I should send it. I was happy to courier it to them at my expense. I even wrote to the chief exec of the trust with no reply.
I received a couple of emails back but all of the sort "I can't help please try xxxxx". xxxxx didn't reply.

I thought about selling it and giving the money to an Ashtma charity but decided against selling NHS property.

I even contacted my local hospital who didn't want to know.

I bet it's all down to budget centres and who would have to pay to get something back "on the books". Sad.

Nick_C

Andy_L wrote: »

A lot of hospitals have their laundry done off site by contract cleaners. Some don't even own their own linnin but have it all provided under the same contract

Even so, laundry is being collected from the hospital. Returned bedding could just be added to it.

You wouldn't find this sort of laissez-faire attitude in many successful private sector companies, but it is symptomatic of public sector organisations who are spending other peoples money.

I don't want the NHS to be run for profit, but I do want them to be efficient and minimise costs.

MothballsWallet

DUTR wrote: »

The man on the telly said it was because of medical tourism, overweight, smokers and the aged that are depleting the resources.

Don't tell me - the man on the telly said (or hinted) that the NHS should kill the aged, smokers and overweight so there's more money to fun IVF?

pmduk

DUTR wrote: »

The man on the telly said it was because of medical tourism, overweight, smokers and the aged that are depleting the resources.

That would have been a politician, not a sentient intelligent being.

Andy_L

Nick_C wrote: »

You wouldn't find this sort of laissez-faire attitude in many successful private sector companies, but it is symptomatic of public sector organisations who are spending other peoples money

You'd find a hard-headed business decision that accepts writing of x% of your bed linen per year as a cost of being in business and only worry about it if that % rises unexpectedly and/or your linen contractor starts to impose charges because you've breached the limit

LadyDee

Nick_C wrote: »

... And it's not just sheets and blankets. They don't want crutches back either!

My local hospital does. Thanked me profusely for taking the trouble to return them rather than putting them in a skip "like some people do".