Publish date: 6 November 2023
In keeping with the Trust’s commitment to sustainability and effective Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice, the Trust will be phasing out the use of paper couch roll across our wards and health centres. From today (Monday 6 November), couch roll will be removed from the ordering system.
The decision to move away from paper couch rolls is driven by two key factors: sustainability and infection control. While the use of couch roll has been a long-standing practice in healthcare settings, it has become increasingly evident that they contribute to avoidable waste and have limited infection prevention and control value.
Sustainability is a crucial consideration, and as a healthcare Trust, we have a responsibility to reduce our environmental impact. By eliminating couch roll, we can significantly decrease the amount of waste generated as illustrated below:
- 5,973 rolls ordered in 2022-23
- Equivalent to 148 miles of paper per year
- 20.5 trees for production of paper roll
- 4,778kg of clinical waste generated per year
- 13,235 kg carbon dioxide emissions per year (equivalent to a 6,000mile flight to Hong Kong)
- Potential savings of £28,000 if couch roll removed.
It is important to note that couch rolls have limited IPC value. While they may provide a barrier between patients and examination couches, they are not designed to effectively prevent the transmission of infections. The primary means of preventing transmission lies in effective disinfection and cleaning. Use of couch roll potentially risks clinicians using them instead of cleaning couches between patients.
Couches should be cleaned using Clinell wipes between patients regardless of whether they have been covered or not.
This transition will not only reduce waste, but also provide a more sustainable and effective solution for maintaining IPC standards. Find out more in the image below.
