From Admission to Discharge: How Many Hospital Textiles Does a Patient Use?

When we consider the patient’s journey through a hospital, we think about the tests and treatments, rarely considering the textile use throughout a patient’s stay.
Yet, they play a crucial role in ensuring comfort, hygiene, and the overall quality of care. In the UK, where the NHS handles millions of admissions annually, the textile requirements for patients are both significant and varied. But just how many hospital textiles does a single patient use during their hospital stay? Let’s explore.
The role of hospital textiles in healthcare
Hospitals rely heavily on textiles for both patient and staff needs. From bedsheets to gowns, towels to curtains, textiles form an integral part of hospital operations. Each item must adhere to strict hygiene standards, endure frequent laundering, and ensure patient comfort. The type and quantity of textiles used depend on the duration of the patient’s stay, the nature of the treatment, and the level of care needed.
Let’s look at the different stages of a hospital stay, and how many textiles are used on average.
Admission
Upon admission, a patient’s interaction with textiles begins immediately. A freshly laundered set of bedsheets and pillowcases is prepared for the hospital bed. Patients are often provided with a hospital gown, and depending on the department, additional items such as blankets, towels, or dressing gowns may be issued. For an average hospital stay, this initial set of textiles includes things like:
- A set of bedsheets and pillowcases (changed as per the hospital’s schedule)
- Non-slip socks in some cases
- Hospital gown
- Towel
- Blanket
The length of the stay has a direct impact on textile usage within a hospital. For example, if you are admitted for one night, you will use one set of the above, whereas if they are admitted for 7 days, you will use much more clothing, bedding, and accessories. In addition, not everyone will want or need a hospital gown and may be wearing their own clothing.
During the stay
The daily textile requirements vary depending on the patient’s condition and level of care. However, the textiles used tend to remain the same, the quantity and frequency are the biggest change with the length of stay. For instance:
- Bedsheets and Pillowcases: These are changed as per the guidelines of the specific hospital.
- Gowns: Patients may require a clean gown daily or more frequently, especially in intensive care or surgical units.
- Towels: Patients are often provided with fresh towels daily for personal hygiene.
- Additional Textiles: Items like incontinence pads, bed pads, or surgical drapes may be used as needed.
- Non-slip socks: These gripped socks are typically given to patients who may struggle with mobility, or have had a recent surgery.
Discharge
Upon discharge, the most recent textiles used by the patient are collected for laundering, to prepare for the next patient to use the bed. Depending on the time of day a patient is discharged, they may have used new textiles that morning, adding to the overall amount.
On average, a patient in a general ward for around 5-7 days might use:
- 2-4 sets of bedsheets and pillowcases per week
- 5-7 hospital gowns per week
- 5-7 towels
- 1-2 blankets (reused but laundered as needed)
- 1-2 pairs of non-slip socks (if needed)
Special cases
Of course, there are many scenarios that can impact the amount of hospital textiles a patient uses. Patients in intensive care or long-term wards have higher textile requirements.
In these cases, daily changes of all textiles may be necessary, and additional items like pressure relief cushions or special bedding might be used. For these patients, the weekly usage could double or even triple compared to a general ward stay.
There are also less significant factors that can have a large impact; such as if a patient runs hot in their sleep, they may require more nightwear, and more bed sheet changes. This could be a daily change of both bedding and clothing.
Environmental and cost considerations
The high demand for textiles in healthcare can have significant environmental and financial implications. Laundering requires water, energy, and detergents, while wear and tear necessitate regular replacement. In the UK, many hospitals are exploring sustainable options such as:
- Durable, high-quality fabrics that withstand frequent washing and last well.
- Energy-efficient or reusable energy laundering facilities to reduce carbon footprints.
- Recycling programmes for worn-out textiles.
- Garments that use recycled materials such as clothing made from recycled polyester.
In a facility like a hospital, where infection control is paramount, laundering is an essential cost as it must be done up to the correct standard. These are just a few ways to try and minimise laundering costs, and reduce the harm made to the environment.
Conclusion
From admission to discharge, a single patient’s journey involves a surprising number of textiles. While these items may seem mundane, their role in patient care is indispensable. Understanding the scale of textile usage in hospitals underscores the importance of sustainable practices to balance patient care needs with environmental responsibility.
In the future, innovations in fabric technology and laundering methods could further optimise this essential aspect of healthcare, ensuring that patients’ needs are met efficiently and sustainably.
At Interweave, we supply a wide range of healthcare and hospital textiles, from bed linens to blankets, to mattress protectors. Take a look at our selection of hospital linen.