The colder months usher in the cold and flu season, and with winter just around the corner, we’re likely to see an influx of illness in the coming months.
This means waiting rooms become busier and facilities are used more frequently. Add in the increased risk of germs being spread, and it has never been more important to have clean, safe healthcare washrooms.
Strong washroom design, paired with an optimised cleaning schedule, can help to prevent the spread of germs and keep staff, patients and visitors safe.
But are your healthcare facilities equipped to maintain the highest standards of hygiene during the busiest time of the year?
Check your handwashing facilities
Handwashing facilities are fundamental in all healthcare settings, so you need to make sure that yours are functional and accessible for all. Start with the basics, ensuring adequate water supply, drainage and functioning fixtures.
Wall-hung sinks, particularly long stainless steel wash troughs, are ideal for healthcare settings, reducing the number of places where germs can build and making cleaning the sinks much quicker, easier and more effective.
You must also ensure a reliable supply of liquid soap, suitable hand drying products and clear handwashing guidance, such as visible signage. This will help to ensure proper hand hygiene when using shared healthcare facilities.
Choose touch-free fixtures and fittings
Touch-free fixtures are the best way to reduce shared touchpoints and decrease the spread of germs. Some of the most effective fixtures your healthcare washrooms should have include:
Sensor taps
Sensor soap dispensers
Automatic hand dryers
Touch-free toilet flushes
Hands-free waste bins
Having these fixtures in place should not replace proper hand hygiene when using the bathrooms; however, they can reduce the number of touchpoints and make it quicker and easier for patients and staff to use the facilities.
Look for hidden hygiene weak spots
In older washrooms, there may be hidden places (or those that go unnoticed) where germs and bacteria can build up and spread. In particular:
Worn sealant
Damaged surfaces
Cracked grout
Awkward corners
Hard-to-reach or exposed pipework
These spaces can make effective cleaning more difficult and time-consuming, causing germs to build up and potentially go unnoticed for a long time.
However, smooth, durable and non-porous surfaces and hygienic wall cladding like solid grade laminate (SGL) can make cleaning much easier and instantly boost hygiene. Integrated pane systems can also contribute towards this.
We’ve also briefly mentioned this above, but wall-hung fixtures like sinks and toilets can make cleaning easier, reduce surface area and ensure there are fewer hidden places or pipework for bacteria to build up.
The important part is looking beyond whether your washrooms appear clean. Instead, you need to check whether your surfaces can and are being cleaned effectively and if your bathrooms are in good condition.
Review your cleaning schedules
You must ensure that you review your cleaning schedules in line with occupancy, usage and local infection risks. For example, during cold and flu season, it is advised that your washrooms are inspected and cleaned more regularly.
There are some fixtures within your washrooms that require more attention from cleaning crews during the high-risk season, such as taps, toilet flushes, door handles, grab rails, dispensers and toilet cubicle locks.
As a result, be sure to review your cleaning schedule, add extra checks and keep thorough documentation of these processes.
You must make sure responsibilities are clearly set out, and that soap and consumables are always replenished quickly. It’s also key to get a quick and easy reporting process in place should there be spills, breakdowns or missing supplies.
Remember, cleaning frequency might change throughout the day, week, month, year, etc., based on usage and visitor numbers. So you don’t need to prescribe a universal schedule. Instead, this should be determined by setting out a risk assessment policy and acting accordingly.
Recognise when maintenance is no longer enough
Finally, one of the best ways to ensure your healthcare washrooms are ready for cold and flu season is to determine when routine maintenance is no longer enough, and you may need to refurbish some or all of your washrooms.
Signs that it might be time to upgrade your bathrooms include:
Repeated damage to key surfaces, fixtures or fittings
Deteriorating, dirty or leaking sealants
Outdated traditional fixtures that are difficult to clean
Insufficient hand washing space or facilities
A clumsy layout that obstructs access or makes cleaning less efficient
Washroom refurbishment might feel like a short-term logistical challenge, but it is a long-term investment in hygiene, durability and day-to-day operations. Upgrading your washrooms will ensure you’re prepared for the cold and flu season for years to come.
So, if your facilities are in need of a little TLC or even a complete overhaul, we can help. Get in touch with the talented team at Cr8tive Washrooms today to find out more about our washroom design services.