New research has set out to establish how much the NHS is losing as a result of textile and laundry wastage.
According to the report by Oxwash:
- Healthcare facilities are struggling to trace scrubs, resulting in what is termed as 'stale stock'. Stale stock refers to scrubs that are lost or misplaced, leading to increased financial burdens on NHS trusts.
- Estimates reveal that the average loss on scrubs per NHS trust is £193,599, and the total loss across England escalates to an astonishing £48,676,068, which is approximately more than it would cost to build seven new GP surgeries.
- Sustainable laundry expert Oxwash estimates the carbon per scrub to be approximately 3.28 kg.
Commercial laundry cleaning experts at Oxwash analysed NHS Hospital & Community Health Service (HCHS) workforce statistics to evaluate the overall costs of laundry wastage. They specifically looked at the headcount figure of professionally qualified clinical staff who will be often required to wear scrubs.
According to Oxwash estimates derived from the NHS Hospital & Community Health Service (HCHS) workforce statistics, the average number of staff wearing scrubs in a hospital or NHS trust is approximately 3073. Extrapolating this data to a national level, the total number of English NHS staff wearing scrubs stands at 772,636.
A crucial factor in understanding the financial impact of untraceable scrubs is the cost associated with their replacement. A set of Interweave NHS Essential medical scrubs comes with a price tag of £12.60. Consequently, the average spend on scrubs per NHS trust is calculated to be £38,719.80 - leading to a total spend of £9,735,213.60 across all English NHS trusts.
As a result Oxwash estimates that the actual average spend on scrubs per NHS trust is likely to be five times the original figure cited, therefore closer to £193,599. To put this in perspective, this is enough money to cover the entire annual salary of five doctors in foundation training (£32,398 to £37,303 according to the NHS). And the total spend across England escalates to an astonishing £48,676,068 which is approximately more than it would cost to build seven new GP surgeries (Ipswich Borough Council).
When accounting for the manufacturing, transportation, washing processes and ultimately losses, the total estimated carbon emissions from the NHS wastage is believed to be around 7,600 tonnes according to the TSA (Textile Services Association). Oxwash estimates the carbon per scrub based on the TSA's assertion to be approximately 3.28 kg.
Dr. Kyle C Grant, the founder of Oxwash, said: “In essence, rectifying this issue requires a collaborative effort where health leaders champion sustainable practices and healthcare staff actively participate in and understand the importance of these initiatives. By fostering a culture of transparency, responsibility and awareness, we can not only alleviate the financial strain on the NHS but also contribute to a more environmentally friendly and resource-efficient healthcare system. Additionally, the integration of our RFID technology for effective scrub tracking is already playing a pivotal role in streamlining inventory management, reducing waste, and ensuring optimal utilisation of resources. This innovative approach can enhance traceability, minimise hoarding, and contribute to the overall success of sustainability initiatives within healthcare facilities.”
https://www.oxwash.com