Chelmsford News
Broomfield Hospital says bring your own blankets to outpatients
11:30am Thursday 9th February 2012
A HOSPITAL has defended its decision to ask kidney dialysis outpatients to bring in their own blankets and linen when they have treatment.
The move by Broomfield Hospital’s renal unit, in Chelmsford, has been described as an “efficiency saving” and will save “hundreds, if not thousands” of pounds a year on laundry costs.
Outpatients receiving kidney dialysis have to visit the unit three times a week, for three to four hours at a time and some already take in their own items to make sure they are warm and comfortable.
So Rebecca Culpin, lead nurse for renal services, decided it would be a good idea to ask others to do the same.
Speaking on BBC Essex on Tuesday, February 7 she said: “It’s about not wasting money and not sending hundreds of bags up the motorway to be laundered when a blanket has only sat on someone’s knee for three or four hours.
“It’s just an efficiency saving and if it helps the environment too it’s a good thing.
“We’re not withdrawing linen, obviously patients in the hospital bed, it won’t effect them.
Mrs Culpin said some patients have not been happy about the request but largely others have agreed to do it because they do it anyway.
“We’re not trying to take away people’s comforts, comfort and warmth is the top priority for us,” she added.
“We are always being criticised for wasting money so this is our way of doing our bit and I will stand up and justify it.”
Concerns have also been raised about items being taken into the hospital from people’s homes and potential risks of infection but Mrs Culpin said she does not see a problem with it.
Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust still provide blankets for those patients who cannot, for whatever reason, provide their own.