Total Solution to Capitalising on Hospice Funding

Published by Angela May for Clos-o-Mat in Health

Hospices can further enhance the quality of their care by using a share of £60m Government funding to apply a ‘total’ approach to personal hygiene.

 The funding has been made available to address areas such as refurbishment of inpatient and visitor areas, including bathrooms.

 Total Hygiene, the UK’s top supplier of disabled toileting solutions, offers a raft of equipment designed to optimize bathroom dignity and independence for people who need the help of a carer. The worth of its range in an ‘end of life’ scenario is independently reinforced: MND sufferer Mike Kelly was so appreciative of his Clos-o-Mat ‘wash and dry’ toilet- manufactured by Total Hygiene- that he donated one to St Joseph’s Hospice in London, which had delivered respite care to him.

 Mike’s widow Brigid, explained, “Mike’s illness meant he could not wipe his own bum. The Clos-o-Mat gave him independence right to the end. He felt strongly that those in the respite ward at St Joseph’s should benefit from the wonderful Clos-o-Mat and signed the cheque for it on the last day of his life.”

 Total Hygiene’s solutions include the Clos-o-Mat which combines douching and drying in a conventional-looking WC that is guaranteed to accommodate someone up to 30stone in weight, the Aerolet toilet lifter which overcomes handling problems by automatically raising and lowering the user over the toilet, the ApresShower body drier which eliminates the need to rub dry with towels, plus hoists, height adjustable changing benches and height adjustable basins- all the equipment to create a bespoke hygiene room.

 “The Better Outcomes Lower Costs report maintained that for the same money as the cost of having a carer lift a disabled person on and off a commode, that person could have an automatic toilet that they can use whenever they please and freeing care staff for other duties,” observes Robin Tuffley, Total Hygiene marketing manager. ‘That saving is further enhanced if the Government funds the equipment! Further, conscious of the considerations of people with life-limiting illness, we have devised a range of provision options, including short-term rental to commercial organisations and charities.”

 With a 50-years history of developing solutions to optimize dignity and independence in personal hygiene, Total Hygiene supplies, installs, commissions and services its equipment in-house- a unique offering in the market. Full details are available on the company’s website www.clos-o-mat.com, via a dedicated care/nursing home button.