Managing patient laundry in hospital?

[husslebussle]

When people are in hospital for a long time, and don't/can't have visitors, how do they manage re clean pyjamas, underwear etc? Do they just end up in hospital gowns? My mum is currently in hospital, can't have visitors, and we're a few hundred miles away. I've posted her some clean stuff. As far as I can tell she doesn't have access to a patient laundry service.

That’s right. Hospital prefer patients to be in hospital gowns, which they will then launder. I guess, so that person is accessible if any procedures are required. Of course Covid prevention is also a priority. Less coming into hospital is best.

Regarding discharge, the discharge team will advise. Maybe at that time you might want to be near.

In our hospital her own clothes would just be bagged up to take home to wash, then patients would be given gowns, net pants, any toiletries that they need. There is no laundry service available for patients. I’m sorry you are so far away it must be difficult. We do have pjs but they don’t fit anyone really! Does she have a dressing gown and slippers as they wouldn’t need washed frequently? If she’s well enough to sit up during the day then a multipack of pants and a couple of trousers and tops could be rotated to last a week? Very few of our patients have their own clothes so try not to worry too much about that.

They provide paper pants and hospital gowns if needed

If she would like her own items, look for a laundry service which will collect from the hospital and deliver the clean laundry back. You can sometimes find small home-based businesses offering this. My friend found a lady who offered this service and would also pick up any toiletries etc needed at the shops and deliver those too.

The hospital may have a personal laundry service. I would contact PALS for a steer.

Does your mum have any family or friends close to her? I would absolutely collect and wash for someone in hospital!
Otherwise, they'll use gowns and hospital nightdresses etc.

I work on a hospital ward and we have a patient laundry service. I much prefer for patients to be dressed in their own clothes, makes you feel a lot more human than a hospital gown. I would ring the ward and ask if they can facilitate this, I’m sure it won’t be a problem!

There may be a service that can sort something out, but unlikely IME.
Is it that there is nobody to visit here, or it's restricted? If there is somebody near who would do it, surely they would let them collect laundry and drop in clean things?

I’m amazed to hear there is a hospital laundry system where you work Mickz!

How do they keep track of individual items? And what happens if people get discharged?