FMA News & Press Releases

Medirest introduces innovative UVC Decontamination Technology at King’s College Hospital

Published: Tuesday 17th December 2013
Source: Medirest / Compass Group UK & Ireland

Following an extensive six month trial, Medirest has successfully introduced Tru-D, SmartUVC Room Disinfection technology at King’s College Hospital in London.

 

Medirest, the UK's leading catering and support services provider in the healthcare market, has secured an agreement with Rapid Disinfection Services Ltd (RDS) to supply the TRU-D UVC innovative technology to its NHS clients. King’s College Hospital in London is the first Medirest contract to introduce this system on a permanent basis and Medirest is looking to roll it out further in the coming months.

 

Tru-D has been designed to target and eradicate Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) and is the only mobile UV disinfection system that precisely calculates the correct UV dose required to remove pathogens from a specified environment. The intelligent device, which has full audit and reporting capabilities, is a fully automated surface and air decontamination apparatus that can be used in all spaces from operating theatres to patient rooms and wards.

 

Once positioned in an unoccupied space, the device is activated by a wireless remote control and automatically adjusts to the dynamics of the space to determine the most difficult area to decontaminate. UVC light then targets and disrupts the DNA of pathogens – including viruses, fungi and bacteria - stopping them from replicating, colonising and causing infection.

 

Medirest Managing Director, Steve Cenci, commented; “Pathogenic organisms are estimated to cost the NHS £1bn per year¹ and we believe that by introducing this solution we can reduce this burden for Trusts and help facilitate better patient care. The solution can help significantly reduce HCAIs within a hospital environment and it’s great to see it operating so successfully at King’s College Hospital London.”

 

Jorge Sousa, Associate Director of Facilities at King’s College Hospital commented; “The implementation of Tru-D has been very successful. It is quick and easy to use and has allowed us a faster cleaning turnaround between patients.”

 

Paul Mooney, Managing Director, RDS Limited added: “RDS is delighted to be associated with leading institutions such as King’s College Hospital and Medirest. This co-operation is an endorsement of Tru-D, its efficacy and the benefits it can bring to hospitals across the UK.”

This system works in a fraction of the time when compared to other existing decontamination processes and once completed, UV energy leaves no residue and the room is immediately available for occupancy. While traditional cleaning techniques are proven to only target 30% of contaminated surfaces, and microfibre cleaning 60%, Tru-D targets 100% of exposed and shadowed surfaces.

 

This technology does not use chemicals, allowing the targeting of previously difficult to get to areas as well as reducing risks to employees, patients and the environment. The patented Tru-D technology has been used successfully in the USA for over four years and is currently in operation in over 100 hospitals in America.

 

-ENDS-

For more information:

Liz Bastone, Compass Group UK & Ireland

Tel: 01895 554426 / 07500 607965

Email: [email protected]

 

Notes to Editors

1. Health Protection Agency (Page 14): http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317134304594   

About Medirest

Medirest is the UK's leading catering and support services provider in the healthcare market, delivering a wide range of services to over 25 acute general hospitals and many medical treatment centres across the UK.

 

Compass Group UK & Ireland

Compass Group UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group PLC, a world-leading food and support services provider with annual revenues of £16.9 billion in the year to 30 September 2012, and over £1.9bn of revenue in the UK & Ireland. We operate across the core sectors of Business & Industry, Healthcare, Education, Defence, Offshore & Remote and Sport, Leisure & Hospitality with a broad client portfolio.

 

Across the UK & Ireland, our operations span approximately 10,000 sites and include workplaces, famous sports and leisure venues, schools, hospitals, oil rigs and remote locations with much more in between. We employ more than 60,000 people and every day we serve millions of customers, provide services at hundreds of office buildings, clean thousands of square miles and protect tens of thousands of people. For more information, please visit: http://www.compass-group.co.uk/

 

About Rapid Disinfection Services (www.r-ds.co.uk)

Pathogens such as C.diff, MRSA and VRE are a major challenge to the NHS and private sector. Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAI’s) cost the NHS approximately £1 Billion per year, and it is known that there are approximately 30,000 deaths annually in the UK due to HAIs. Steve Bertuzzi, Bill Passmore and Paul Mooney have over 60 years of combined experience of marketing, selling and leading high profile brands in international healthcare: together they wanted to find a product that would make a difference to both patients and the operational effectiveness of the healthcare sector.

 

Through contacts in the US the team identified Tru-D, and following research around the technology they created a company specifically to introduce a new range of disinfection products and services under the tag line “Helping save lives, time and money.” Headquartered in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, RDS has an impressive organisational structure that encompasses Sales, Marketing, Technical support, Customer Services and logistics support. Additionally RDS has an advisory panel of key individuals who have 50 years’ experience in working within the Infection control arena.  Customers or interested parties can contact the company via 01572 756 913 or

[email protected]