Your care home or hospital sluice room may not be the most exciting part of your facility’s operations, but it is absolutely vital for keeping your patients or residents and staff safe.
Disposing of potentially hazardous human waste in an efficient and hygienic manner is key to preventing the spread of harmful bacteria and Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAIs) such as C. diff, norovirus and E. coli.
The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 set out the standards which health and care services are expected to meet. The Regulations aim to ensure that human waste disposal facilities are well-maintained, clean and appropriately located; in addition, they must have suitable equipment for sanitising items such as bedpans and commodes.
The Department of Health’s Health Building Note 00-09: Infection Control In The Built Environment provides further guidance on the various stages of a sluice room build project and highlights the major infection prevention and control (IPC) issues and risks that need to be addressed at each particular stage to achieve built-in IPC.
In order to remain compliant with these regulations and – more importantly – provide the best care for your patients or care home residents, there are various pieces of equipment which you should install in your sluice room.
Disposal/Slop Hopper
Washer disinfector
Pulp macerator
Foot-operated clinical waste bin
Storage cupboards
Wall-mounted rack
Liquid soap dispenser
Stainless steel handwash basin
Fire door (depending on local regulations)
Sealed floor covering (vinyl or similar)
Tiled or aseptic laminate walls
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