Milton Keynes Hospital is evolving. It recently gained university status and is due to become a teaching hospital.
The cleanliness of catering was recently given the highest-possible rating by food safety inspectors. Even so, says catering manager Denise Clifford, ‘We are always trying to better ourselves’.
Recently the hospital switched to Winterhalter chemicals, as a result of which, as well as achieving better cleaning, the hospital is saving money – and things smell sweeter.
The chemicals are supplied by Alliance from the company’s East Midlands branch.
“We considered several brands before making our choice,” said Clifford.
“There were two prime reasons for going with Winterhalter – we got better chemicals, at a better price. In fact, we’ve reduced our chemical costs by about £2,000 a month, and although the new chemicals are cheaper per litre, they actually last longer.”
Milton Keynes is using Winterhalter cleaning chemicals for kitchen and restaurant areas. The hospital is also using the company’s enzyme drain maintainer, A81 BLUe, which uses natural microbes to clear drains of FOG and other accumulated organic matter. It creates a film on the drain’s walls that provides long-lasting protection.
“It works really well. It has eliminated the smell we used to get, and the dispensing system is simple to run – it feeds directly into the drain and you just replace the bottle of chemicals when it runs out,” said catering supervisor, Jenny McHugh.
“In fact, all the Winterhalter dispensing systems are easy to use and, of course, they save chemicals because they just give you exactly the dose you need.”
Winterhalter is best known for warewashers and Milton Keynes hospital is impressed by its warewash detergents, which it uses both at ward level and for the main kitchen dishwash system.
“The F-8000 detergent has made a huge difference,” said Clifford. “Not only in terms of cleanliness, but also it actually renovated the plastic beakers we have. Plus, all the crockery smells cleaner – it’s lovely. We’re using it across the board.”
The hospital is so taken with the company’s chemicals that it is now replacing its old warewashers with Winterhalters.
“At ward level the Winterhalters’ thermal disinfection systems are most impressive and far superior to what we had before,” said Clifford.
“Environmental health officers did some decontamination tests and they passed with flying colours. The machines are quicker, too, and easier to use, so we’re saving time, our staff are more efficient, and we’re getting better results.”
