Recently, the annual Society of Hospital Linen Services and Laundry Managers (SHLSLM) Forum took place In the UK. Visitors could attend various presentations and debated the workings of NHS laundry management – from RFID and automatic uniform dispensers and smart productivity solutions to procurement protocols. This annual professional development forum is a key event for NHS and commercial laundry and linen services professionals as well as affiliated traders.
One of the speakers was Martin Hartwigsen – sales and marketing manager at Deister Electronic, a Germany based company for RFID solutions. He presented his company’s textile solution program, textag. He told the audience that the system enables improved workflow and puts textiles wherever needed. It eliminates walking time and offers 24/7 availability with no maintenance. The system is already being used in hospitals in Europe and Scandinavia. As an example Hartwigsen referred to a hospital in Oslo, Norway where in-patient treatment takes place across three hospitals with a total of 485 beds. Every day, around 700 employees are provided with fresh work clothes with the help of the system that was successfully installed in 2021.
Although the question arose ‘who is going to pay for implementation of systems like this’ – NHS or the linen rental business – , most delegates acknowledged the benefits associated with RFID technology.
