Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you use pads or pants is all down to personal preference, and the needs and comfort requirements of the person using incontinence products. Many people find that incontinence pants are better for their lifestyle, as they provide a normal underwear feel and maximum discretion. They also offer greater freedom of movement, and some types have an elasticated waistband to provide a better fit.  Both incontinence pads and pants are easy and hygienic to dispose of. Pants can sometimes be ...
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<p>Surgical gloves are typically made from natural rubber latex, due to its excellent levels of flexibility and protection. However, due to concerns over potential latex allergies in healthcare providers or patients, surgical gloves are now available in alternative materials, such as synthetic polyisoprene, neoprene, or nitrile.</p>
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<p>Sterile examination gloves are identical to non-sterile examination gloves, but they are sterilised (most commonly by gamma irradiation) and individually packed and sealed to minimise the risk of patient infection in invasive procedures such as minor surgeries. Non-sterile examination gloves are used for examining patients and for procedures with a lower risk of patient infection.</p>
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Most oral syringes can be reused, although it depends on the type. Always check the manufacturers instructions and consult a medical professional if you have concerns. It also depends on what the oral syringe is used for. For example, it is recommended to dispose of, rather than reuse, oral syringes that have been used for oral chemotherapy medications.  To reuse an oral syringe, it is necessary to wash all parts of the syringe thoroughly with warm soapy water. You can also sterilise the s...
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It’s easy to use an oral syringe. Remove the lid of the medicine or substance and insert a bottle adapter if needed. Then, insert the tip of the oral syringe into the adapter, turn the bottle upside down and slowly pull the plunger back. Oral syringes have clear measurement markings on the outside, so you’ll be able to fill the syringe to the required dosage. Gently remove the tip of the syringe from the medication bottle.  The next step is to administer the medication to the patient. Put ...
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<p>ENfit is a new type of standard, universal connection system for oral syringes and tube feeding equipment. It is a global change that will replace all other connections in extension sets, syringes, long tubes and NG-tubes.</p> <p>The change to ENfit is designed to minimise or eliminate the risk of misconnection or disconnection when using enteral tube feeding equipment. This will improve patient safety and make equipment easier to use across the world.</p>
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<p>Facial tissues are designed to be very easy to use. One tissue is dispensed at a time and can be used in medical and household environments. Facial tissues are often used for general cleaning, nose blowing and a wide range of other uses.</p> <p> When using facial tissues, it is recommended to use a dabbing rather than a rubbing motion. Rubbing can cause friction, which irritates and inflames the skin.</p>
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Facial tissue should not be flushed down the toilet after use. While it is made of paper, it is not constructed in the same way as toilet tissue. It doesn’t break down as easily in toilet and drainage systems, so can cause a major blockage if flushed. Facial wipes should also never be flushed, as they are even more difficult to break down. Facial tissues and wipes should always be disposed of hygienically in an appropriate bin. They should not be recycled as the tissue is likely to be contamina...
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Facial tissues are usually made from paper. The manufacturing process uses the lowest basis weight tissue paper, which is formed from pulp. The surface of facial tissue is often made smoother through a process known as calendering, where hard pressure rollers are run along the surface of the tissue to smooth the fibres.  Tissue paper is designed to be soft, strong and absorbent. It usually consists of 2 or 3 ply, and it may be treated with lotion, softener or fragrance depending on the typ...
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It’s important to dispose of used incontinence pads as hygienically as possible. The best way is to use disposal bags that are specially designed for incontinence pads. They are stronger than ordinary disposable bags, which means that they are unlikely to rip, whilst also sealing in any odour.  Some disposable bags are lightly fragranced, which is very useful for masking any unwanted odour. You can also find fragranced pedal bin liners designed for the disposal of incontinence pads in larg...
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Incontinence pads are made up of several layers for maximum absorbency. If disposable, they are made using paper and other materials, while washable and reusable pads tend to be made of cotton.  Disposable incontinence pads have a surface material on top, which is made of fibres that absorb the liquid into the layers below. This layer is very important as it’s what keeps you dry and comfortable. Underneath the top layer, there is a porous material which transports liquid to the centre. Her...
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Incontinence pants should be changed according to your personal needs, or the needs of the person in your care. Ideally, incontinence pants should be changed and disposed of before they become too wet. Leaving it too long can lead to discomfort and increase the chance of leaks. It can also cause poor skin hygiene and unwanted odour.  Each type of incontinence pants will have its own level of moisture absorption, which can ensure you feel comfortable for longer. They will also be able to ab...
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Surgical gloves are specially designed for use during surgical procedures. As well as providing protection against cross-contamination between healthcare providers and patients, surgical gloves are also sterilised and individually packaged to further reduce the risk of infection to the patient during surgical procedures. Compared to standard disposable examination or PPE gloves, surgical gloves are thicker and stronger and have a closer more anatomical fit to provide maximum durability, dexterit...
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<p>Yes, moist patient wipes can be used for hands and face.</p>
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<p>Government guidelines of how to safely dispose of COVID testing kits can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-lateral-flow-tests-waste-codes/waste-codes-for-mass-testing-with-lateral-flow-antigen-testing-devices">here</a>. </p>
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<p>The item you refer to PH4240 does not have an expiry date.</p> <p> </p>
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<p>This 5L product does not come with a dispensing pump, but there is a pump that can be bought on the website ideal for the Anigene 5L. The code is CD6151 </p>
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Thank you for your enquiry It’s a company called Kintech.
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<p>These are non-sterile.</p>
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This product fits current Omron Blood Pressure Monitors (except 907, M7, M6 Comfort, M10-IT and i-C10) and yes it is an Omron made product.
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This product does not need to be sharpened after every use. It will require sharpening at some point depending on usage, however we do not offer a sharpening service.
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Product Specification Usable Capacity: 3.98 Litres Container weight (g): 338.0 Container Size: H285mm x L176mm dia Aperture Dimensions: W77mm x L46mm
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The syringes are wrapped in packs of 10, not individually.
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Simply put, a needle’s gauge is the size of its opening. It’s a measurement of the inner cavity of the needle, the breadth of the hollow part of the needle. There are a variety of different needle gauges that have different uses in medical procedures. In the past few decades, needles have become increasingly narrow. This makes them less uncomfortable/painful to use and allows them to enter the body without causing unnecessary damage.  The higher the gauge size of a needle, the narrower the...
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They are an excellent alternative to washcloths, which require regular laundering, and are considered to be more hygienic due to their instantly disposable features. We stock hand and face specific wipes for common areas, as well as general wipes for everyday needs. Moist patient wipes ensure those using them feel refreshed and clean afterwards, as well as removing the risk of infection. Wet wipes can also be used in the beauty and childcare industries, to wipe off make up and mess on a day to d...
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<p>Wet wipes are not considered to be biodegradable and should therefore be disposed of in the same way you would dispose of clinical waste.</p>
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<p>If wet wipes are being used in environments where cross contamination is prevalent it is essential that they are disposed of appropriately to avoid infections spreading. Therefore, it is not recommended that they are recycled.</p>
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<p>For the environmentally conscious, maceratable wipes are the best choice. Not only are they excellent at maintaining high levels of hygiene and sanitisation for patients, they can also be flushed with waste from bedpans and commodes. This lowers the risk of infection for nursing staff, who do not need to remove the wipes to throw away with clinical waste or they can be thrown down the toilet – better for the environment and the wellbeing of those providing care services.</p>
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<p>For medical staff, maceratable wipes are definitely the best choice as they minimise the risk of infection when removing waste.</p>
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No, you should never try and use a slide sheet on your own. Slide sheets are designed to allow professionals to manually manoeuvre patients by utilising best-practice methodologies to ensure safety for both the patient and staff. Attempting to move a patient on your own could lead to problems for both parties. Without a second pair of hands to assist you, you could end up straining your back or sustaining a more severe injury. Not to mention, attempting to move a patient on your own is likely to...
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A slide sheet is primarily used for the safe manual handling of patients, generally from their beds. There are a variety of different tasks that you can accomplish through the use of a slide sheet. You can use one for sliding a patient up or down a bed, helping them sit up or lie down should they need it. You can use the slide sheet to help a patient turn over on their bed, helping to reduce the chance of bedsores. You can use a slide sheet to help move a patient from one surface to another with...
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A commode, or a commode chair, is a toilet that does not use running water and as such can be moved around for easier accessibility for those who are less mobile. There is a broad range of different kinds of commode, but the majority have a couple of things in common. Most look just like chairs, but with a toilet seat and opening in the required spot. They have an easily removable container (generally a bucket) that slots under the seat for easy disposal and cleaning. The majority of commodes wi...
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Firstly, ensure you always wear gloves and an apron when you’re cleaning a commode. Remove any seat cover from the commode and then, working from the top to the bottom clean all surfaces with warm water, neutral detergent and disposable cloths. If possible, remove the seat and clean any surfaces exposed by its removal. It is then advised that you turn your commode upside down to give yourself easier access to the underside and ensure that you’ve cleaned all surfaces thoroughly. You can then clea...
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Yes, they do. Though it may seem strange that a sharp piece of metal can have a use-by date at all, it’s more of an indication of how long the manufacturer can guarantee the sterility of the needle. After this date, the needle doesn’t suddenly become blunted and unusable. However, because it may no longer be sterile, it does become unsafe to use. When making use of needles to administer treatment to patients, it’s important to always check the use-by date of the product. While infection from an ...
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<p>Moist patient wipes are effective when it comes to comfort but they also feature mild surfactants, which disinfect and cleanse all skin types, reducing the risk of infection and improving hygiene.</p>
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<p>A syringe pump is one of a variety of infusion pumps, all of which are used to deliver fluids into a patient’s body in a controlled manner. Syringe pumps can be powered mechanically or electronically. The fluid is held within the reservoir of a syringe and is delivered through the use of a movable piston, allowing the user to specify the rate and amount of fluid to be infused.</p>
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<p>A syringe is made up of three key components, the barrel, the plunger, and the tip. The barrel is the main body of the syringe and is where the fluid is held, it tapers to one end towards the tip. The plunger is a rod with a cone-shaped head to allow it to fit snugly in the barrel. The tip provides a point of attachment for a needle, should one be required.</p>
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<p>No, under no circumstances should a disposable syring be reused. Reusing syringes is unhygienic and could expose patients to blood-borne infections, which can lead to serious illness or death.</p>
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<p>A luer lock syringe is a type of syringe that allows the needle to be twisted onto its tip and locked into place. This provides a more secure connection and prevents the fluid from leaking or the needle from becoming detached during use.</p>
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<p>A luer slip syringe (also known as a non-luer lock syringe) is a syringe that doesn’t have the luer lock securing system for the needle. Needles are simply pushed onto the syringe and not locked securely into place. Luer slip syringes are generally cheaper than other varieties as they don’t have the locking feature and so are easier to produce.</p>
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A catheter is a flexible plastic tube that is inserted into a patient’s bladder via the urethra. The other end is either attached to a urine collection bag which must be emptied regularly or a valve for convenient drainage into a toilet. There are several different kinds of catheter and each one functions slightly differently: - Intermittent Urinary Catheters One of the more common, they are usually inserted into the bladder via the urethra for just long enough to empty the bladder several ti...
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How long a catheter is left in depends on the type in place: - Intermittent Urinary Catheters These catheters are not left in place and as such, should only be left in until urine stops flowing. A new catheter is generally used each time. - Indwelling Urinary Catheters The majority will need to be changed at least once every three months. - Suprapubic Catheters These can be left in for between 6-8 weeks before needing to be changed....
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<p>Catheters are fitted by qualified health professionals trained in their use. For indwelling urinary catheters, this is done by inserting the sterile catheter tube into the patient’s urethra. In the case of suprapubic catheters, the tube would be inserted through an incision made in the patient’s abdomen. Patients are generally taught how to correctly and safely use intermittent urinary catheters themselves.</p>
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If you’re unable to hand a urine sample in for testing within an hour, it’s possible to lengthen the time the sample is viable for by storing it in a fridge (at around 4℃). Always ensure that the container you’ve used to collect the sample is sterile and that you place it into a plastic bag before storing it in the fridge. You can safely store urine samples in this way for up to 24 hours. It’s important to note that if you don’t refrigerate it, bacteria in your sample are likely to multiply and ...
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A urinalysis (urine analysis) is used to test for several different factors that can indicate a variety of different disorders. Generally speaking, a urinalysis will be used as an initial test to point the medical professional in the right direction. This allows for further, more in-depth testing to be carried out in more specific areas.  The following are some of the substances or cells that can be detected in the urine and what they might mean: - Protein Persistent protein in the urine...
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