Firstly, the Best Practice Guidelines identify a target level of half this value, which is in accordance with target values for linen hire contracts originally set out by the FCRA. These are a reasonable compromise between ultimate quality and loss of linen life due to chemical damage. The minimum levels, if not achieved, could trigger drastic action including contract termination.
Secondly, the staining pattern in hospital linen means that in fact it is common for two or more stains to be found on the same item. Older items will be more likely to accumulate these multiple stains. It should be understood that a minor stain may be very small, and by definition quite faint, but a stain is a stain and they all count. Many will subsequently be bleached away in further production cycles. With mechanised feeding systems, they would often be difficult to detect and reject.
Thirdly, the two types of stain should not be counted together. A failure to remove either major or minor stains to the required degree is still an overall failure.
It might do a great service to the industry if staining was to be surveyed systematically and examples of good practice found and emulated. The Best Practice Guidelines should be challenging, but they must also reflect reality.
Yours sincerely,
Alastair Campbell
