King Edward VII Memorial Hospital turns out thousands of pounds everyday.

"Our primary objective is to provide the highest possible standard of sterile linens as well as adequate amounts of linen for the Hospital,'' said Mrs.

Blanche Phillips, head of the laundry department.

"And in doing so, we provide employment for staff in support of Hospital goals and objectives while also furnishing staff with clean, safe and healthy working facilities.'' The Laundry Department services the entire Hospital including King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, St. Brendan's Hospital, Agape House and the Dialysis Unit.

"We also launder bed linen and uniforms for the Bermuda Regiment,'' said Mrs.

Phillips. "And we service Lefroy House which is a Government-run rest home in the west end,'' she added.

The Laundry Department, therefore, must employ an efficient system to handle the enormous loads of laundry coming through the Hospital. "We operate on a mobile exchange system,'' said Mrs. Phillips. "Essentially the department replaces linens today for tomorrow.

"A delivery person collects soiled linen from chutes in the wards between one and five times a day depending on the area. And it's transported through the service elevator to the soil sort room.

"The laundry is divided into three classes in the sort room including light, medium and heavy or contaminated soil,'' she added. "And staff members will sort the laundry into weight loads according to the washers' capacity.'' The laundry room has five washing machines including two 75 pound washers, a 125 pound washer, a 600 pound washer and a 700 pound washer. Seven 100 pound tumble dryers, an ironer for sheets, one sheet folder and a towel folder completes the laundry equipment.

"Once the linen has been washed, it goes to various areas for processing by use of a flow chart,'' said Mrs. Phillips. "And in the production finishing area, laundry staff are responsible for packing bundles for the operating room.

"They must also check linen for rips which is carried out on a special examining table,'' she said. "And where possible staff will mend the holes.'' All clean linen is placed in a trolley. And after being emptied in the linen room by a delivery person, the trolley is returned to the unit. "Linens are replenished on a 24-hour basis through the mobile exchange system and it's very efficient,'' said Mrs. Phillips.

Universal precaution of infection is taken in all areas of the department.

Staff wear rubber gloves before handling any soiled linen, according to Mrs.

Phillips.

"In the soil sort area, staff must garb up, wear masks and rubber gloves.

And they must remove it all before leaving the soiled area. Also the wash person must garb up when loading the machines and degarb when unloading.

"And all clean linen must be transported out of the wash area before soiled linen comes in,'' she said.