Delivery and Training of the Reval Ruby Mobile Shower and Sterilisation Unit

Reval Continuing Care recently completed the delivery, training, and handover session for the Reval Ruby Mobile Shower System to a private home address in North East London.

The recipients of this innovative care solution are a young family living on the 7th floor of a block of flats. The family consists of a mother, who is the primary caregiver, and her children. They are currently in the process of being relocated to a more suitable home, with an application submitted to the local authority for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to adapt the new property.

Delivery and Setup

The delivery of the Ruby Mobile Shower System presented a logistical challenge due to the location on the 7th floor of a multi-story building. However, the unit’s compact design and high manoeuvrability enabled access and portability throughout the building confines for easy set-up within such a compact environment.

Training Session

Managing Director Jason Ashman and Regional Sales Manager David Bertorelli conducted a comprehensive training session for the family. The focus was to ensure the mother, as the main carer, felt confident and competent in using the Ruby unit.

Product Features and Benefits

The Ruby Mobile Shower unit is designed to bring the bathroom to the bedroom, catering to patients who cannot access the bathroom independently or with assistance. Here are some key features and benefits:

Hygiene and Comfort:

The unit allows for the provision of uncompromising hygiene levels within the safety and comfort of the patient’s own bed. A lightweight waterproof sheet is placed underneath the bather, fastened securely to the bed’s side rails, head, and footboards, accommodating the bath while ensuring full water containment.

Ease of Use:

The sheet can be laundered at 90°C for reuse or replaced with a low-cost single use alternative, providing hygiene and convenience when needed.

Integrated Water Vacuum:

The Ruby includes a water vacuum that transfers waste water from the sheet into a dedicated tank within the unit. This tank can then be easily drained into a sluice, toilet, or shower drain.

Compact and Manoeuvrable:

The Ruby is designed for easy manoeuvrability and compact storage. It comes with a double-width drying towel and waterproof shower sheet, all fully integrated into the appliance, making it safe and user-friendly.

Anti-Scald Protection:

The unit features thermostatically controlled water, pre-set and heated to suit the specific needs of the bather, providing anti-scald protection.

Easy Maintenance:

All surfaces of the Ruby are smooth and easy to clean. The built-in hand-operated disinfection applicator allows for quick and thorough cleaning. External hoses can be easily and thermically sterilised in boiling water. All internal hoses are automatically chemically sterilised, or can be replaced with a set of spares, minimising downtime.

Conclusion

The Ruby Mobile Shower System has been successfully integrated into the family’s home care routine, providing an essential solution for maintaining hygiene and comfort for patients who are immobile. This case highlights the unit’s practicality in challenging micro-environments, such as high-rise apartments, and its significant benefits for home care providers and recipients while reducing manual handling risks and equipment.

Ensuring Compliance in Assisted Bath Installation

Reval were recently approached by a private client seeking to replace an assisted bath for her son.

The previous appliance was removed due to its age and non-compliance with UK water by-laws. During a random inspection by the local water provider, it was found that compliance could not be provided by the manufacturer, necessitating the removal of the old system.

The Compliance Challenge

Non-compliant assisted bathing systems and manufacturers are surprisingly common in the UK healthcare market. As of 30th May, only two manufacturers, including Reval, are listed as compliant on the Water Regs UK-approved product and materials register. This implies that nearly 80% of assisted bath manufacturers selling and installing products in the UK are non-compliant, making them unsuitable for connection to the main water systems.

Client’s Dilemma

Our client requested our product specifications and compliance certification as per the 2024 Water Regs UK guidelines. Approval from the local water provider is required at least 10 days before installation to avoid serious practical and financial consequences. We provided the necessary compliance proof and a quote for our appliance.

The client, concerned about compliance, asked us to verify the compliance of the other manufacturer and model. We found that neither the company nor the model was registered or certified under Category 5 / BS6920. We communicated this to the client and provided evidence from the Water Regs UK register.

The Local Authority, despite the evidence, insisted that the non-compliant manufacturer assured them of their compliance, based on their past usage without issues. This stance placed our client in a difficult moral and legal position. After further discussion, the Local Authority agreed to part-fund our compliant appliance, although they disappointingly valued it at the same rate as the non-compliant option. Thankfully, the client chose to proceed with our product, ensuring long-term compliance and safety for her son.

This case is not unique in our experience with local authority social care departments. Historically, assisted bathing compliance has not been well-publicised by regulators and water providers. There is also a lack of enforcement and awareness by organisations like Trading Standards, MHRA, and CQC. Compliance with standards such as BS6920 is legally required, but responsibility also falls on owners, operators, and those involved in the construction and specification of healthcare facilities to ensure compliance.

In contrast, NHS Estates Departments have stringent compliance controls, ensuring only approved appliances are used in NHS hospital facilities. This is likely due to the critical nature of care and the need to maintain high internal standards to protect those at greatest risk.

Reval has been a proponent of quality and compliance in healthcare for over 20 years. The 2024 Water Regs UK guidelines provide clear directions for owner-operators and community-based healthcare providers. Enforcement of these guidelines is crucial to protect vulnerable individuals and ensure the safety of facilities.