“Cumberland Hospital Laundry’s new system has exceeded expectations,” says Comox Valley MLA Don McRae. “Not only does the new system use less water and natural gas, but it keeps good paying, career oriented jobs right here in the Comox Valley.”
The new state-of-the-art equipment was installed last September, replacing aging, inefficient equipment that had reached its life expectancy. The Province, through the Vancouver Island Health Authority, and the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District (CSRHD) cost shared $1.225 million and the Cumberland Regional Hospital Laundry Society contributed $270,000 toward the new equipment. It was purchased through a Request for Proposals process that specifically sought bidders who could provide a system that was efficient, environmentally friendly and ergonomically designed.
“We are pleased to have partnered with the CSRHD to fund this project that demonstrates a conscious effort towards selecting equipment that is efficient, designed for ease of use by staff and being Green,” said Jac Kreut, VIHA Board Chair.
“The CSRHD’s mandate is to provide financial support for capital costs related to hospitals and hospital facilities within our district’s borders, and we’re delighted to have been part of bringing this important, sustainable equipment to this facility,” said Charlie Cornfield, CSRHD Chair.
The new tunnel washer system is far more efficient, doing an average day’s work 20% faster than the previous equipment. The new system also uses significantly less water consuming just 0.7 gallons of water per pound of linen processed, compared to 3.5 gallons with the old equipment.
“Not only does the new tunnel washer system use less water, it also uses less hydro and natural gas and creates 1.3 million pounds of new capacity to meet the needs of the region into the future,” said Eric Macdonald, Vice President, Finance, Capital & Support Services, St. Joseph’s General Hospital and President of the Cumberland Regional Hospital Laundry Society.
Cumberland Regional Laundry is owned by VIHA and St. Joseph’s General Hospital, and is operated by the Cumberland Regional Hospital Laundry Society. It employs 65 staff who process and transport about eight metric tonnes of linens a day. The new equipment is capable of processing up to 3,200 metric tonnes per year.
Attachments (2): Backgrounders
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For more information:
Val Wilson
VIHA Communications
250-739-6303 (office)
250-713-3911 (mobile)