Background:

Our Hospital Closed Loop programs are designed to produce a range of very healthy benefits...

After conducting several audits, interviewing staff and observing a wide range of hospital staff in action, Closed Loop designed a program that continues to deliver many cost savings and benefits to The Prince of Wales Hospital.

The Challenge:

The Prince of Wales Hospital Closed Loop program provides Closed Loop recyclable, single use packaging for patient meal trays. The program collects the packaging at the back end and then sends it off to be recycled into new end-use products. It has been widely accepted by both the patients and staff, and has delivered improved food quality, infection control and food safety.

The Solution:

 

Financial Benefits

Roster savings.
Savings in the purchase of chemical, crockery and cutlery.
Water Savings – cost and usage.
Reduction in electricity usage.
Reduction in waste removal costs.

Other Benefits

Plating of meals can be done closer to meal time.
Time savings on dishwashing activities.
Improved food safety and quality.
Improved workflow and storage (dramatic reductions in double handling).
Reduced manual handling.
Major reductions in OH&S claims and premium costs (repetitive actions at the dishwasher stripping line reduced by approximately 70%).
Waste reduction – Closed Loop take the used packaging for recycling.

The Results:

Patient Feedback

84% said that the Closed Loop packaging presentation was good to excellent.
74% of patients claimed that the Closed Loop packaging was very easy to use.
89% agreed that the food safety and hygiene provided by the Closed Loop packaging were good to excellent.
88% of patients indicated that the heat retention of their meal was good to excellent.
89% indicated that it is important for hospitals to be environmentally responsible.

Staff Feedback

91% thought that the Closed Loop packaging was very easy to plate meals.
91% told us that it was very easy to seal meals using Closed Loop packaging.
92% believed that tray slipping and disposal was very easy.
100% thought that the weight of the Closed Loop packaging was great compared to the weight of the old cutlery and crockery.
69% described the overall response from patients about the Closed Loop packaging as positive to extremely positive.

Further Observations From Staff

Plating Line no longer runs out of plates or cutlery.
No crockery breakage or need for rewashing.
Work is far lighter (trays are 56% lighter with Closed Loop packaging).
Work environment is cleaner and the kitchen quieter.
Team is more effective on the plating line.
It’s a much less stressful process.
A cleaner, more hygienic scullery.