Hospital trolleys: how can 100 UK hospitals be wrong?
March 1st 2006

Robert Scott & Sons' recently introduced complete Microfibre Trolley System - The Rokleen - has been chosen by Hospital Cleaning Contractors Medirest as the preferred choice in over 100 hospitals throughout the UK

Twelve months of trials and development by Robert Scott, working closely with Medirest Business Development Manager, Anna Hallas, has resulted in the new trolley system now being used extensively in hospitals such as Charring Cross and Hammersmith in London.

"The introduction of the Rokleen System has come about through a combination of three of the basic principles adhered to at Robert Scott's - the ability to look at existing product ranges and to see how we can improve on their basic principles; learning and taking advantage of all new developments within the industry and, most importantly, listening to customers and end-users," says Alastair Scott, sales director, Robert Scott & Sons. "The result is a complete and effective hospital cleaning system, one that takes full advantage of the effectiveness of Microfibre but combines it with an ability to further control the problems of cross contamination in sensitive environmental areas and also help reduce labour costs and prevent the excessive use of chemicals."

One of the major factors in the success of the Rokleen System is its ability to reduce cross contamination in hospitals - a problem Medirest was experiencing with the standard Microfibre velcro mopping system. In developing and researching the trolley Robert Scott's discovered that the original Velcro Microtex mopping system, although simple and easy to use, can also cause problems where the work load is particularly heavy - such systems allow dirt to build up on the mop and holder thus diminishing effectiveness of the Velcro, and causing potential problems in areas where infection control is imperative.

Rokleen is different; instead of the conventional Velcro mopping system the company has introduced the "Uniko"brake system. According to the company, this new type of frame together with new push fit handles and easy-toclean disposable bags make the Rokleen system a suitably labour saving and effective Microfibre trolley for the demanding service required by hospitals.

Cleaners simply place up to 20 Microtex mops into the 20-litre container to which 1 litre of liquid, preferably water or - when particularly hard worn-in grime is being cleaned - cleaning fluid can be added. The hermetically sealed cover is placed on top and the container turned upside down to allow the liquid to be completely absorbed. The mops are now ready for use. Once the mop is dry or a different area is to be cleaned the mop head can be easily removed and placed in the wash net on the back of the trolley and a new mop head quickly and simply replaced.

Other benefits of the trolley include space for Microtex and Microglass cleaning cloths, an easy to remove disposable baggy and the inclusion of a high-level Microfibre cleaning tool for hard to reach areas - all incorporated into a lightweight, easy-to-control, unit.

The Rokleen Trolley System can therefore be moved quickly throughout busy hospital wards and corridors and the waterless power of the Microtex mopping system ensures busy areas are ready for immediate use after cleaning.

"Initial trials at Hinchenbrook Training Hospital in Huntingdon proved successful and the trolley was recommended by Medirest for use in Hammersmith and Charring Cross Hospitals in early September and it was here that we were again able to introduce another important component of our service - training," says Alastair Scott.

"New techniques and products, more often than not, will fail, not because of product design or fault, but through a reluctance to change by cleaners - the end-users - who in most cases do not fully understand the benefits of the new product or how to use them effectively. Also, because of the huge workforce involved in the cleaning of hospitals and the often rapid turnover of employees, it is also vital to train the trainers! For the first week of the trolley's introduction at Hammersmith and Charring Cross, Kelly Fallas from our Sales Training department gave on-site training to all staff - taking them simply and coherently through the cleaning process - as well as working closely with managers and members of the hospital's supervisory staff to set up and establish a maintenance programme for each individual area of the building".

"We are delighted with the results experienced by Hammersmith and Charring Cross."

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