NHS Central Lancashire Infection Prevention and Control

LAUNDRY PROCEDURE

REFERENCE NUMBER
APPROVING COMMITTEE(S) AND DATE 15th January 2009 - Infection
Prevention and Control Sub-Group
Provider and Operational Services,
Clinical Governance and Risk
Management Group – 9th February
2009

AUTHOR(S) / FURTHER INFORMATION Infection Prevention and Control

Team
LEAD DIRECTOR Maggi Morris, Director of Public
Health
THIS DOCUMENT REPLACES Laundry Policy
REVIEW DATE February 2010
RATIFICATION DATE/DRAFT No February 2009
VALIDATION SIGNATURE Governance Sub-Committee awaiting
signature
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CONTENTS
PAGE

1 INTRODUCTION 3
1.1 Background 3

2 PROCEDURE
2.1 Procedure for Longridge hospital 3
2.2 Storage of Linen 3
2.3 Types of linen/laundry 4
2.4 Linen in the patient’s home (including LDS
homes) 4
2.5 Manual Handling equipment 4

3 TRAINING 5

4 REFERENCES 5

5 Appendix 1 6

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1.0 Introduction
To meet the requirements of the national agenda for infection
prevention and control, all NHS organisations are monitored by the
Healthcare Commission with regard to Standards for Better Health
(DH, 2004) and The Health Act 2006: Code of Practice for the
Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI)
(DH, 2006). The Health Act (2006) stipulates that NHS bodies must, in
relation to preventing and controlling the risks of HCAI, have in place
appropriate core policies, including laundry procedure.
Implementation of this procedure will achieve compliance with the
Health Act (2006).

The provision of clean linen is a fundamental requirement for patient

care. Incorrect procedures for handling or processing of linen can
present an infection risk both to staff handling and laundering linen and
to patients who subsequently use it.

Background

Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and Management of Health and
Safety at Work Act (1999) Control of substances Hazardous to Health
regulations (2002)

2.0 Procedure

2.1 Procedure for Longridge Hospital

• Linen should be changed daily or when soiled (All laundry is out

sourced for Longridge)
• Where laundry is sent to another department for processing, it
should be appropriately segregated in colour coded linen bags
(Appendix 1)
• Infected and fouled laundry form in patient isolation rooms should
be placed into alginate bags prior to sending to another department
for processing and should be washed separately to other
laundry
• Soiled linen should not be manually sluiced
• Laundry bags should not be overfilled and should be properly
sealed prior to transport
• When striping beds, handling soiled, fouled or infected laundry
always wear protective clothing and perform hand hygiene following
PPE and Hand Hygiene procedure.

2.2 Storage of linen

• Full laundry bags should not be stored for collection in public areas

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• Bags of dirty linen used or soiled or infected linen must be

stored in a secure area.
• Used linen should be kept separate from soiled linen at all times
• Clean linen should be stored in a clean area off the floor
• Any unused linen following barrier nursing must be re-washed
before it can be used for another patient. See trust procedure
for Isolation of Patients

2.3 Types of linen/laundry

• Linen that can not withstand high temperatures should be avoided

• In clinics, disposable laundry should be used e.g. couch roll instead
of a sheet to cover examination couches
• Pillows should be covered with an impervious waterproof (wipe
able) cover and then covered by couch roll. The use of linen
pillowcases should be avoided
• Reusable towels are not recommended for use in clinical practice
• Reusable laundry should not be used in minor surgery rooms
• Cubicle window curtains and blinds should be laundered 6 monthly
or when visibly contaminated this should be accompanied by a
written validation programme for evidence
• Staff uniforms/clothing refer to uniform policy

2.4 Linen in the patient’s home environment (including LDS homes)

• In the patient’s home, the washing machine may be in the kitchen. If
soiled or infected linen needs to be laundered, this should not be
undertaken at the same time as food is being prepared
• Soiled or infected linen should be washed separately, after all other
laundry, using the hottest wash possible for the fabric or at 30°C if
using a biological detergent. The machine should not be
overloaded
• Washing machine should be cleaned and maintained as per
manufacturers instructions to maintain its efficiency
• Hands should be washed after any contact with dirty linen and
gloves and apron worn for any contact with blood or body fluids
• If alginate bags are provided for use in domestic machines, they
must be of the type with a dissolvable seam, (and tied using the
draw string) as fully soluble bags may cause blockage

2.5 Manual handling equipment

• Patient should have either their own hoist sling or a disposable
sling. This should be laundered following the manufacturers
guidelines, returned to community Loan Stores for decontamination,
or disposed of, as appropriate
• Patients should have their own sliding sheet if required, which
should be laundered. Where there is any soiling of fabric items, they
must be laundered immediately and must not be washed by hand

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3. Training

All staff within NHS Central Lancashire should receive training in

respect to Laundry management on a yearly basis. New staff at
induction will receive training and then annual mandatory sessions also
include laundry management. This training is provided by the Infection
Prevention and Control Team. Organisational development will provide
information on staff attendance at training and managers are
responsible for ensuring staff attendance. Monitoring of mandatory
training is identified within Professional Development Plans.

4. References

• Health Act 2006

• Health & Safety Executive Control of Substances Hazardous to
health Regulations 2002 (as amended). Approved Code of practice
and Guidance (Fifth edition) HSE Books 2005
• Health & Safety Executive Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
HSE
• Health & Safety Executive 1999 Management of Health and Safety
at Work Regulations (1999) HMSO
• NHS Estates 1997 Health Technical Memorandum 2030 – Washer
Disinfectors UK health departments; DoH 1997
• NHS Executive, 1995 Hospital laundry Arrangements of Used and
Infected Linen. Health Service Guidelines. HSG (95) 18; Health
Publications Unit; Heywood, Lancashire.
• Uniforms and work wear: an evidence base for developing local
policy DoH 2007 http://www.dh.gov.uk/publications

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Appendix 2

COLOUR CODING FOR LAUNDRY BAGS AT

LONGRIDGE HOSPITAL

Bags are obtained from the Laundry; please contact the Laundry before your delivery.

Fouled, Infected and Cytotoxic Linen

Red Linen

Placed in a red alginate bag securely tied and then place in a red linen
bag

Soiled Linen

Ward linen is placed in a White or Orange Linen

Bag

Patients Clothing and

Agreed ward items

Use Brown Bags

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