Winter is a worrying time for care home owners.

Figures released by the ONS show that over the winter of 2017-18 there were nearly 46,000 excess winter deaths among people aged 65 and over.

Excess winter deaths are a comparison of the number of deaths between December and March with those during the rest of the year. These figures demonstrate how perilous the winter months can be for older people and their health but, most worrying of all, these numbers represent a landscape before the COVID-19 pandemic.

For those who need to upgrade or adapt their current infection control precautions to protect against imminent threats, the time to act is now.

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Servicing both new and old infection control machinery is essential.

We know that COVID-19 can be spread in stools, even when those who are carrying the virus are asymptomatic.

For care homes, this poses a very real danger. There is almost certainly an element of human waste management in every facility – from bedpans to incontinence nappies. It’s absolutely essential, therefore, that waste is disposed of diligently in order to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Those wishing to upgrade their infection control technology are likely to have assessed their sluice room needs to establish if any changes need to be made. However, it’s important to remember that even the most advanced sluice room machinery will need planned, preventative maintenance to keep it performing at its best.

Without regular maintenance, your machines could be falling short of the required standard. Maintenance is an essential preventative measure to stop faults developing; without it, machinery could break down without warning and leave you with a significant gap in your infection control protection.

At a time when infection risk is at its peak, this weakness could be devastating.

DDC Dolphin engineers will support your infection control needs, without risk.

Here's How

DDC Dolphin is your partner through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

When you take out a service and maintenance contract from DDC Dolphin, you equip yourself with maintenance and more.

DDC Dolphin will provide ongoing advice and support in the fight against COVID-19, on top of scheduled servicing and essential, reactive maintenance precisely when you need it.

For example, should you opt for a 360° Care package, you’ll benefit from:

• Finance on the purchase of your chosen machine, including five years' parts and labour warranty (warranty policy applies)
• A free site survey before you take out your contract, to assess the viability of the installation and if any remedial works are required
• A choice of three levels of service to suit your individual needs
• A personal account manager to advise you on the best and most cost-effective solution for your requirements
• Access to an unparalleled network of highly qualified technicians
• Rapid response call-outs with 24-72 hour SLAs, depending on your chosen level of service
• Expert training for all staff who will use your machine
• Direct communication with the manufacturer of your equipment.

Better yet, there are absolutely no hidden costs, so you can accurately forecast your budgets in the knowledge that your service and maintenance is already paid for, thanks to our fixed price packages over five years.

We can safely install and maintain your machinery without exposing you to any additional risks.

During the pandemic, you may well have extra measures in place to limit visitors and third parties inside your care home.

However, refusing maintenance visits for fear of an infection risk is counterproductive. By not maintaining your machinery, your risk of infection increases significantly.

Our engineers are used to working with hospitals that treat patients suffering from highly contagious tropical diseases. These are far more deadly than coronavirus and require full training in the very latest infection control and decontamination practices.

In addition, our expert engineers can go in with far more protection than the basic masks, gloves and aprons that you might expect. Rather, they are equipped with specialist PPE, including full hazmat suits for maximum protection.

You don’t stop caring during COVID-19. Neither does DDC Dolphin.

We have more than 30 years’ experience in providing exceptional infection control solutions to medical facilities. We are here to support you now, more than ever.

To discover more about how we can assist you through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, please contact us.