State-of-the-art robots to protect UHDB patients from harmful infections
UHDB has purchased two state-of-the-art disinfection robots to help the Trust stop the spread of Covid-19 and other harmful infections in our hospitals.
The UV Disinfection (UVD) Robots can be programmed to autonomously drive around key clinical areas within the hospital and emit concentrated doses of UV-C light to kill 99.99% of all bacteria in less than 10 minutes.
Using this technology will allow the Trust to provide extra protection to some of our most vulnerable patients, with the robots set to initially be used to disinfect Queen’s Hospital Burton’s Treatment Centre, and across Royal Derby Hospital’s Theatres, Combined Day Unit, and Renal Dialysis areas.
UHDB’s Infection Prevention and Control team are currently receiving training on how to use the new UVD Robots, which will be used in addition to normal cleaning routines and will play a huge role in making our hospitals cleaner and safer for patients and staff.
Helen Forrest, Infection Prevention and Control Lead Nurse, said: “We’re really pleased and excited to have these new UVD Robots available at our Trust. This state-of-the-art technology will allow us to enhance our excellent, existing environmental cleaning service, and keep our hospitals safe for our patients, including those who are most vulnerable.
“This is a tried and tested technology in environmental disinfection and will enable us to keep key clinical areas, such as Theatres, well disinfected and safe for our patients.”
Dan Harding, Managing Director of Sychem; UK Distributor for UVD Robots, added: “UV Disinfection is a proven means of disinfecting areas and destroying microorganisms. It offers a very innovative method of disinfecting and decontaminating an area, by using high doses of UV-C light. The UVD Robot is exceptional in its performance and is completely autonomous, which is really cutting edge in the world of interrupting key transmission pathways in healthcare.”
State-of-the-art robots to protect UHDB patients from harmful infections from UHDB Communications on Vimeo.
UHDB is one of only a handful of NHS Trusts nationwide – and the first in the region – to purchase the five-and-a-half foot UV-C emitting machines, which flash different colours to signify which stage of the disinfection process they have reached, and have also been programmed to speak certain phrases!
The robots are not in operation yet, as technicians are currently working with the Trust to map out the different stopping points in each area they will be used in, so that they can then work autonomously.
Ahead of their launch, the Trust would like to welcome both robots to #TeamUHDB properly by giving each one its own name – and it will be up to colleagues from across UHDB’s five hospitals to decide by sending in their favourite suggestions.
All UHDB staff will be able to take part in the competition by sending in their robot names to uhdb.communications@nhs.net to put themselves in with a chance to win an Amazon Echo Dot!