Aquapak has given thousands of frontline NHS workers across the UK innovative water-soluble infection control bags to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from the workplace.
The environmentally friendly bags can be put straight into the washing machine to limit exposure to virus. This means workers can remove their work clothes in the workplace, take them home safely and put them straight into the washing machine without exposing their homes to the virus. The environmentally friendly infection control bags dissolve in the washing machine on a 60C wash cycle.
Some 46,400 bags – and rising – have been donated to frontline health and social care workers across the UK. Recipients include local, West Midlands frontline staff at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and workers across the West Midlands including staff at: Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital; Moseley Hospital; Acorns Children’s Hospice; West Heath Hospital; and BMI Edgbaston. In the East Midlands bags have been supplied to the Treetops Hospice and GP surgeries across Nottingham.
Across the UK, donations have also been given to frontline NHS staff at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, across Norfolk via the James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UEA Medical Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn and NHS Norfolk and Waveney CCG whilst in West Yorkshire, frontline staff are using the bags at hospitals including Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
The infection control bags are made from Hydropol™, Aquapak’s innovative polymer technology which is designed to be water-soluble, non-toxic and marine safe. They have been distributed free of charge as explained by our CEO, Mark Lapping, who said: “In this time of national crisis we were keen to do whatever we could to help our fantastic key workers. Over the coming weeks it is incumbent on all of us in business to do whatever we can to support frontline workers delivering world class care to our most vulnerable people.”
Aquapak has a packaging conversion partner (Echo Packaging) in the UK and other partners outside the UK able to quickly produce more of the bags to get them to the people who need them working on the frontline fighting the coronavirus.
It has been lovely to hear that the infection control bags are making a difference:
Lisa Stalley Green, Executive Chief Nurse at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said:
“On behalf of University Hospitals Birmingham I would like to thank Aquapak for their kind donation of laundry bags to our frontline staff. I am so proud and full of admiration for the staggering and ongoing effort from all of our staff to treat and protect our patients, our staff and all our families in the battle against Coronavirus. All of the donations we have received have made such a difference to us in so many ways. The laundry bags have helped to provide our staff with reassurance and alleviate some of the pressures during this unprecedented time.”
Jacqui Smith, Chair of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said:
“We’re grateful for the support of Aquapak in providing these innovative bags to our staff. They have been working round the clock to care for patients and to build our capacity in these very difficult times. Being able to use these bags is providing reassurance for staff and supporting them to do their best for our patients.”
A Spokesperson for the James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Our staff are working very hard and in different ways to provide the best possible care to all those affected by the coronavirus. These laundry bags have been a very welcome addition for all the support staff during these unprecedented times.”
George Freeman, MP for Mid-Norfolk and former Minister at the Department of Health said:
“I am delighted that we were able to request some of these donated bags to help our amazing frontline healthcare workers who are working round the clock across Norfolk in the fight against COVID-19. The infection control dissolvable bags are helping to give reassurance that staff can reduce the risk of infection to themselves and others when they leave work.”
Kelly Ellis, Enhanced Care Team Leader at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:
“This is a major anxiety for staff at the moment; taking home contaminated uniform. With the kind donation we have been able to relieve a lot of anxiety and have received some great verbal feedback. They are high quality, completely dissolve and definitely fit for purpose.”
For more information on infection control bags, please click here or contact us for more details.
