Notes
Funding:
£250 from DOLGE for posters.
Aims:
- To minimise clinical nappy waste
- To minimise non clinical nappy waste
- To reduce social exclusion
- To minimise poverty
- To promote health
- To involve local community
- To create local employment
- To minimise environmental impact
- To design a real nappy for the NHS
- To educate, inform and by example promote the three pillars of sustainable
development: the social, the economic and the environmental
- To promote the advantages of real nappies to allied professionals
and governing bodies through specific networks
Scheme History:
As a midwife in the 21st Century public health issues are at the forefront
of Mary O’ Connor’s work. This includes minimising socio-economic
exclusion to young families. Nappies are an essential commodity, but unfortunately
a considerable percentage of child benefit is spent each week on their use.
By offering interest free loans to families living on the margins of society,
they are given choice and are able to break the cycle of deprivation. In
2003 Mary O’Connor approached relevant parties in government and put
forward a case for interest free loans explaining that with the money saved,
child health issues could be targeted as well as reducing environmental
impact. Local retailers were contacted and invited to extend their ranges
of real nappies.
In the clinical setting Mary undertook over a year’s research, obtaining
information from practitioners primarily from the southern hemisphere and
North America, as well as the British Isles. She looked at the types of
nappies/diapers available and the midwives’ views on their efficacy
in the clinical setting, along with many comments about their impressions
of the nappies. Linen services, infection control, purchasing and NHS estates
were then contacted and a product specification
was created looking at tensile strengths, weaves and energy efficiency in
the hospital clinical setting. Based on Mary’s findings from research
a nappy was designed for the NHS surpassing all clinical efficacy trials.
The Stork-Eco Nappy was born. It is specifically for newborn infants in
the first few days of life. A local company is now manufacturing the product.
Scheme:
Interest free loans have been available since 1/4/2004 from the DHSS to
all families with children under the age of one year, who were in receipt
of income support benefit. Since September 2004 this has now been extended
to all forms of subsidised benefit e.g. family credit. A specific cheque
is issued for real nappies up to the value of £250. This amount will
increase on a yearly basis. The family can then select a pack of nappies
from local retailers. This is the first change in legislation within the
British Isles regarding the promotion of Real Nappies.
Promotion:
Nappy displays from WEN are situated in the antenatal clinic, parenthood
education room and the maternity ward of Nobles Hospital. Information and
posters are displayed in health centres, GP surgeries and day nurseries.
Baby Groe magazine is distributed to all pregnant women. Information is
provided to women on booking in, visiting and on discharge from the maternity
unit regarding real nappies. All DHSS employees are made aware of this scheme
by promoting it in the DHSS newsletter.
Scheme Monitoring:
Excel spread sheets at the DHSS. Yearly audit.
Achievements:
By the introduction of real nappies to the maternity unit based on 850 deliveries
per annum, an estimated 27,000 nappies will no longer require to be clinically
incinerated. It is estimated 3,600,000 disposable nappies are going to landfill
each year on the Isle of Man (DOLGE). If even 10% of families use real nappies
that is a considerable reduction in the amount of disposable nappies used.
As the scheme commenced on the 1/4/04 figures are not yet available.
The Campaign was an award winning entry in the NHS Estates Building Better
Healthcare Awards 2004, Outstanding Sustainability Project. It was an award
winning entry in the Midwifery Practice Awards 2004 ‘innovator of
the year’and it was also an award winning entry in the Green Apple
Environment Awards 2004.
Benefits of the Scheme for partners involved:
By introducing real nappies into the clinical setting and the effective
use of hospital laundries, basing financial cost on weight rather than per
piece item, this method will reduce considerably the estimated cost of laundering
real nappies. Linen costs are also based on a full capacity load. The employment
of staff is the most expensive. Therefore if no extra staff are required
for the estimated daily load and capacity can be met, this may be the solution
for the reintroduction of
real nappies to minimize clinical nappy waste in the NHS.
Environmental Impact:
The change in statutory legislation regarding real nappies minimises environmental
waste. Creating a maximum efficiency energy product for the clinical setting
(laundry). Reviewing how laundry is calculated within the NHS Estate. By
providing information, education and leading by example, an increasing number
of families are now using real nappies.
Future Plans:
Hopefully a further change in legislation offering interest free loans
to all families in receipt of child benefit from 2006!
Commencing a community laundry service.
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