1. THE LINEN

2. THE LINEN ROOM IS THE CENTRAL SECTION OF ALL LINEN AND FROM HERE SUFFICIENT CLEAN ARTICLE IN GOOD CONDITION ARE DISTRIBUTED, THROUGHOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT.

3. IN HOSPITALS, WHERE THERE IS DAILY RESHEETING, THERE IS GREAT DEAL OF LINEN TO BE HANDLED. IN THIS CASE, THE LINEN ROOM IS NECCESSITY. THE LINEN KEEPER IS INCHARGE OF THE LINEN ROOM.

4. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES TO SEE THAT THERE IS A SMOOTH AND ORDERLY EXCHANGE OF LINEN. THEY ALSO SEE TO THAT SORTING AND DESPATCH OF THE LINEN ON ITS RETURN. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE REGISTERS ACCURATELY AND EFFICIENTLY.

5. LINEN ROOM WORK The linen keeper is that the linen room is clean at all time. All linen should be arranged separately and neatly in the rack. On receiving the linen from the laundry, the linen room staff open out and inspect every item thoroughly.

6. Marking of linen, preparation of statements and maintaining the registers are also a part of the work done by the linen staff.

7. Despatch of linen If soiled linen is lying around the linen room for along time, it may be misused or damaged. It is therefore important that all soiled linen to be sent to the laundry as quickly as possible. Those articles that needs special treatment should be send separately with special instructions regarding their laundry.

8. Arrangement of linen. The shelves on which the linen is to be stored should have clearly label. The shelf should be slotted to allow free circulation of air. During storage, the linen must be kept covered to protect them from dust, dirt and pests. All linen requiring a longer storage period should be kept behind. Care should be taken to protect them dampness, dust and dirt.

9. Marking and mending of linen Marking may be done manually or by machines. Every item of linen needs to be marked for easy identification. Marking is usually done on the right side. It is usual to print the hospital emblem on the article. It helps to keep a check on the wearing qualities of the article.

10. Purchase of linen Sometimes the linen keeper may be required to purchase material. The linen keeper makes a careful selection, paying great attention to fiber, weave, tensile string,wash ability colour fastness and general suitability for the purpose.

11. When purchasing linen Should consider its texture rubbing quality,life and cost. It is always best to first obtain samples that may be tested for quality and strength. It is advisable to buy a best quality and purchase as larger a quantity as possible. Order should be made in good time with reputed firms.

12. Par stock Par stock may be defined, ass minimum numbers of linen require to meet the daily demands, to ensure the smooth functioning of the hospital.

13. CONTD Par stock means four to five times the quantity of linen required by the establishment.Example for a hospital with hundred beds par stock of bed sheets around be 100 pairs,they will be 100 pairs in the laundry, 100 in the room and 100 in the pantry. This allows one batch of linen to remain in the laundry at one time.

14. Importance of par stock Par stock is important for making correct and efficient investment of capital. It is essential to prevent overstocking. It helps to avoid chances of spoilage of linen during storage. It helps to ensure proper supply of linen at all time. Effective budgeting. Simplify stocktaking. It helps in establishing linen control.

15. Storage conditions in the linen room The room must be constructed has to be eliminate the possibility of damage by insects. Well ventilated,cool and bright. Hot pipe should not run through the linen room. The room should be protected against dampness.

16. contd Properly designed racks should be used, so that rust and white ants don’t get at the material. The room should have only one entry and one exit for the security purpose. The room should be located, so as to be easily accessible to all employees as well as laundry.

17. Linen exchange procedure The room linen is either directly received by the laundry or by the linen room. The floor supervisor should count each soil linen and enter the figure on the room linen control form. On receiving soil linen, the linen assistant recounts the linen and checks with room linen control slips.

18. Stock taking For a linen room, to work efficiently, stock taking is a must;stock taking is done at specified intervals in order to keep a check on the amount of linen and to know when to order for afresh stock. Stock taking is weekly, fortnightly, monthly and annually.

19. contd In order to prevent discrepancies, it is better, if all the staff is verified on the same day. Stock taking schedule includes: 1. Preparation of statement 2. Stock verification 3. Preparation of last accounts

20. Methods and principles involved in stock taking Physical counting is done after every three months and known as quarterly inventory. All items are separately grouped before counting. All condemned linen are stamped with condemned sign and put aside. The total linen count should tally with the last inventory figure.

21. Spoilage of linen Misuse of linen. Insufficient care of damp stained linen resulting in mildew and in spread of ironmould. Carelessness in stripping beds resulting in sheets being torn. Unnecessary use of bleach at the laundry. Lack of inspecting in turn articles being used and entire tear becoming worse. Insufficient stock and poor rotating. Careless handling resulting in soiling, greasing etc.

22. Linen control Since linen heavy investments, it is necessary to keep close control on them.Effective control is possible through the following practices. 1. control on misuse, shortage and mix up 2. Proper storage 3. Regular stock taking 4. Spot checks 5. Proper supervision

23. To prevent damage of linen the following points should be considered. 1. Linen should be exchanged strictly on a 1 to 1 basis 2. Laundry should load washing machine properly. 3. Laundry should be careful not to use excessive amount of bleaching powder. 4. Proper pressure and heat must be kept on all irons as it could cause burns and stains.

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