The power of partnership in delivering patient-focussed Covid-19 solutions

In the face of the greatest public health crisis in a generation, many NHS Trusts have needed to rapidly adapt their infrastructures and change operational procedures to respond to the extraordinary demands brought on by the pandemic. For healthcare FM providers, new challenges have been set requiring innovation, resourcefulness and efficiency, while never compromising patient safety and comfort. 

Over what has been a really challenging time the Sodexo Healthcare team at Stoke Mandeville Hospital has been outstanding. Not only has the team kept the hospital safe, we have innovated and stood out from the crowd. Simon (Benge, Estates Manager) has paid a huge part in all of this.

Rochelle Gee, Head of Operations Property Services

At Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Sodexo’s hard facilities management expertise has been put into sharp focus. Our Healthcare team has responded to a range of sensitive and hard-hitting issues, calling on the strength of our relationships with our own suppliers, to deliver solutions and vital projects during this most challenging of periods. These activities have had significant positive impact in several crucial areas, including preventing the spread of infection, improving communication and ensuring patient safety, comfort and dignity. 

Founded in 1832, Stoke Mandeville Hospital is part of the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. Home to the National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC), it is the oldest and one of the largest spinal injuries centres in the world. Sodexo has partnered with the Trust since August 2006, providing 17 integrated facilities management services including retail; domestic services; patient dining and ward host services; portering and waste management, in addition to full hard FM provision. 

Preventing the spread of infection

Stopping the spread of infection has perhaps never been more crucial, as NHS staff continue to navigate their way through the unforeseen challenges of the crisis. At the height of the pandemic, Sodexo constructed and installed 83 new internal bay pods to create a physical barrier between cubicles in key wards. The pods consisted of wooden structures wrapped in safeflex with a zipped front – a design that did not compromise ventilation or fire safety.

The team rebalanced airflow in Ward 11 (burn treatment) and Ward 5 (used for Covid-19 patients), to ensure the four isolation rooms were suitable for infectious Covid-19 patients. The air supply into the wards was reduced to create ‘negative pressure rooms’, where the air pressure inside the room is lower than the air pressure outside. This ensures that when a door is opened, potentially contaminated air or other dangerous particles from inside the room will not flow outside into non-contaminated areas.

Enhanced hygiene levels for NHS staff saw the introduction of 10 portable hand wash basins, matching the World Health Organization guidelines for ‘Clean hands protect against infection’. The Hygienius MediWash model is entirely self-contained and needs no mains water service or drainage connections, making it ideal for use in temporary areas set up for NHS staff to don and doff their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The Trust also approached us to find a solution to maintaining social distancing between patients, without reducing bed capacity. Sodexo engaged with Volvina, a commercial shading solution specialist, and invited them to develop a product for a hospital environment. 

The resulting solution utilised existing curtain tracking so the screen formed a protective barrier between patient beds and maintained light and air flow around the room, whilst ensuring privacy and dignity as required. In conjunction with the screens, the team also developed a PVC curtain made to have the same qualities as the opaque fabric used in the barrier screen. This is a pleated fabric that is used in the same way as typical curtains that hang from existing cubicle rails in a bay. The solution delivers a range of benefits: 

• Infection prevention: the opaque fabric on both screen and curtain comes with a certified anti-microbial agent built in (BIOSAFE) which helps prevent the spread of MRSA/C DIFF and other infectious diseases. It also has Greenguard certification (recognising low chemical emissions), improving the quality of the air in which the product is used. All seams are machine welded rather than stitched. 
• Cost efficiency: the system uses existing track systems; is permanent rather than disposable, and can last for many years. The screens can be cleaned in situ so there is no cost for laundering. 
• Patient comfort: the solution is bespoke designed to offer privacy and dignity while allowing for good light and air flow. 
• Safety and durability: all fabrics are inherently flame retardant to BS standards and the opaque screen fabric carries a lifetime warranty.

Volvina has patented their design and tabled it with NHS England following an introduction by Sodexo’s estates department. Early signs indicate that this solution may be added to Health Technical Memorandum (HTMs) 

Improving communication

Safe reliable communication between clinical staff working inside the hospital’s Covid-19 wards and the wider hospital team was critical. NHS staff needed to know they could quickly contact and request additional clinical support when required.

Sodexo engaged with our contractor Avoira to successfully develop and introduce a wireless PA solution.

Ensuring patient dignity 

Anticipating the potential impact of the pandemic, the Trust approached Sodexo’s estates manager prior to the height of the Covid-19 outbreak to request additional mortuary capacity. Initially, extra capacity for 30 deceased patients was sourced for the mortuary department. However, as the pandemic progressed, this increased capacity to 450 With countrywide demand at an absolute peak, the retail market for this had understandably been exhausted.

Our team stepped into action, determined to provide a permanent solution. A supplier called Scandia was sourced by site and supported by the Sodexo procurement team as a one-time vendor (OTV). The Trust now has the biggest mortuary capacity in the county.

If you'd like to know more about Sodexo's services and how we can partenr with your organisation, please click here to complete an enquiry form.