This document discusses linen and laundry services in hospitals. It provides information on the importance of linen, types of linen used, laundry workflow, objectives of laundry services, types of laundry systems, activities involved, facilities and equipment required. It outlines staffing patterns, linen requirements, policies and procedures for effective linen and laundry management in hospitals. The key points are that linen services aim to provide clean linen for patient comfort and safety while preventing infections, different areas have specific linen needs, and setting up proper facilities, equipment, staffing and processes is important for meeting linen demands.

1. -DR.SHARAD H.GAJURYAL
JR,MD(HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION)
B.P KOIRALA INSTITUE OF HEALTH SCIENCES,
DHARAN,NEPAL

2. Introduction
Linen and Laundry services are responsible for
providing safe, clean, adequate and timely supply linen
to user units of hospital at right time, right price and
right place.

3. Linen is a general term used to denote clothing items.
It includes all the textile used in hospitals including
Mattress, bed cover, pillow cover, bed sheets, towel,
blanket, screen, curtain, doctor’s coat ,table cover etc.
Cotton is most preferred and frequently used material
as it is cheaper and more comfortable.

4. Hospital laundry receives all the linen material from
different areas like ward, OT, OPD, and office area
where they undergo process of sorting, washing ,
extracting, drying, ironing, folding, mending and
delivery.
The OT linen materials need special care since it
has to be washed & sterilized carefully. So if
possible, the hospital can go for separate laundry
process for OT linen materials alone

5. WHY IMPORTANCE TO LINEN??
Most of the patients readily accept the professional
service of their doctors and nurses without or with
minimum amount of criticism , They can judge the
hospital by personal care and attention given to them
while they are confined to hospital bed. Criticism of
linen service by both patient and their visitor
personals is one of the most frequently complaints
heard in the hospital. The major share of this criticism
can be avoided by properly planned linen and laundry
services.

6. Adequate supply of clean linen sufficient for comfort
and saftey of patient and personal appereance &
pleasant, neatly attired employees attending patients
in fresh crisp uniform do much sell the hospital to the
public

7. Types of Linen
 Linen for Housekeeping-This includes curtains, drapes,
table cloths , etc
 Patient linen- Bed Linen, Body Linen, OT Linen
 Staff linen-Doctors and Medical staffs Apron, Gown etc

8. Objective of laundry services
To provide comfortable and pleasant environment to
patient and visitors of hospital by supplying clean
linen.
To control Hospital Infection (3-4% of HAI is due to
mishandling of the infected linen)
To supply uninterrupted supply of linen to user
department.
To improve image of the hospital

9. Types of Laundry Services
Rental System Contractual System
In Plant System Co-operative System

10. Contractual system : In this system, Hospital owns the
linen but has no mean of laundering it. It hires a
contractor whose job is to collect linen and after
laundering delivers to hospital. Some time the hospital
also provide space and facility for laundering.
Disadvantage for rental system is that it may leads to
mixing of linen and chance of cross infection are more.

11. Rental system: Especially for the hospital with small
size where it will not be economical to have their own
laundry. In this system, the hospital hires laundered
linen from contractor on rental basis.
This system is advisable for small hospital upto 50
beds.

12. In plant system: In this system , the hospital have its
own laundry plant.It is one of the best method for
washing hospital linen. This type of laundry is more
suitable for hospital of bigger size.
Advantage are :
Loss and damage of linen reduced, reduction in cross
infection.

13. Cooperative system: In this system, a single laundry
caters to number of hospitals. This system is most
economic. It is suitable for hospital of small size and
nursing homes . Disadvantage are chance of higher
cross infection, also if there is strike in one laundry , it
affects functioning of many hospitals.

14. Activities in laundry
Collecting and receiving dirty and soiled linen from
wards and other dept.
Sorting of linen
Removing of blood stains
Disinfection
Washing and Drying
Repairing/ sewing
Pressing/calendering and folding
Storage
Issue of material

15. WORKFLOW OF
HOSPITAL
LAUNDRY

16. Ancillary Facilities
Laundry Managers Office
Tailoring Area
Workers Rest room
Toilets
Boiler room
Stores

17. Physical facilities
Location : Should be located in mechanical and
electrical area with facility of electricity, proper
ventilation,water, drainage system and steam. Also can
be in close proximity of CSSD and Dietary system due
to commom requirement steam in these areas.
Ground floor with least disturbance to patients.

18. Space requirement : 10sq.feet/bed
Physical layout : U shaped or rectangular shape
Designing: Designing should be in such way that it should
help the main processes which are
Sorting, washing, hydro-extraction, drying, ironing,
calendering, folding and packing
It is always advisable to sepreate area into two parts i.e
sorting washing and hydroextraction in one part and clean
linen processing in other part.
Processing of OT linen should be in separate space

19. Floors and ceiling : Floor should be rust proof , non-
slippary, washable,suffient gradient to provide easy
flow of water.
Ceiling should be smooth ,washable, moisture proof ,
sound proof, with minimum height of 3.5 meter.
Wall should be washable and free from crevices,
corners,edge or projection.with light color as they
contribute good reflection of light.

20. Doors and windows : Doors should be wide enough to
admit heavy machinery and trolleys. Maximum light
and natural ventilation should be provided from
window.
For ventilation,10 air change per hour is
recommended.
Lightening: Day light should be used if possible which
helps to increase productivity and improve efficiency.

21. Power supply: 3 KW hour per 45 KG of laundry, The
distribution panel should be easily accesible and
should be away from direct path of escaping water
vapor. There shuld be a stand by generator.
Water: There should be provision of adequate supply
of water. Aprrox 15 liter of hot water and 10 liter of cold
water required per 0.5 kg of linen processed. IF

22. Steam Supply: A temperature of 170 degree Celsius is
obtained from steam at 45 kg per 6 sq. cm pressure. All
steam line should be properly insulated for protection
of workers.
Fire safety: provision of extinguisher should be located
throughout the laundry with fire detection system and
alarm. Workers should be instructed not to smoke in
laundry while working. They should be trained how to
use fire extinguisher. No electric equipment should be
left on after working.

23. Sewing room: should be located near to processing of
clean linen and packing room.
Laundry manager’s room : should be located centrally
so that manager may properly supervise the entire
laundry operation. wall should include a large vision
panel to allow full view of the areas.

24. List of files and registers
1. Linen stock register
2. Daily transaction register for wards
3. Daily transaction register for other
areas
4. Dhobi pay register
5. Camp register

25. Staffing pattern
Four category of workers are required in laundry;
Supervisor
Operational
Semi-skilled
Unskilled
Training in infection control and basic hygiene should
be given to all workers. There are various formula for
calculating staffs in laundry:

26. A-one washer man for each 60-75 kg of linen
One man for each 30 bed in hospital
As per recommendation of US department of health
Approx. personal excluding mangers are :
-75 bed 7 personal
100-175 bed 12 personal
200-300 bed 15 personal

27. For 500 bed
-laundry manager-1
Supervisor-1
Store keeper-2
Orderlies-6
Tailor-1
Sweeper -1
Operators-17

28. Requirement of linen
Amount of linen required in different wards, OT , opd
differs from hospital to hospital. As a rough guide,2-
3.5kg of linen per patient per day is required. If we
presume bed occupancy of 100% maximum 4-6 set of
linen are required as :
One in use
One ready for use
One being processed
One in transit
Two set for weekends and holidays/exigency in stock

29. Equipments
The number and type of equipment required depends
upon various factor
Type of hospital
Size of hospital
Linen load
Type of laundry system in existance

30. Major equipments needed are :
Boilers
Washing Machine
Hydro extraction machine
Drying Tumblers
Calendaring machine
Steam bed press
Electric hand press
Sweing maching
Weighing scale
Fire extinguisher
Trolleys

31. Washing machine

32. Hydro extracting machine

33. Equipments of linen and laundry
WASHER CUM EXTRACTOR-
This is a combination of
washer and an extractor in
one unit.
Hydroextractor- also
simply called extractor ,
removal of water after the
washing cycle in the washer.

34. EQUIPMENTS OF LINEN AND
LAUNDRY
DRYER OR TRUMBLER- A
HYDROEXTRACTOR EXTRACTS
ALMOST 80% OF WATER FROM
THE LINEN. A dryer brings the
linen up to an almost dry state.
FLAT BED PRESS-

35. Policy and procedures
Type of laundry
Type of linen
Control of pilferage and theft
System of distribution of linen to user units
Planned preventive maintenance program for laundry
equipments
Training of operator and other staffs for universal precaution
and operations of machines
Inventory control
Condemnation and disposal
Maintenance of history sheet of equipments

36. THE END