Bedpan macerator hints and tips

What is a bedpan macerator?

A bedpan macerator (or masher) is a machine specially designed for the hygienic disposal of pulp bed pans. Using minimal power and water they macerate the item(s) into small enough pieces to be passed safely into the foul water drainage. The user opens the lid, typically without having to use hands, and dispenses the item into a chamber; the lid then closes and seals, and spinning blades and cold water inside the chamber break apart the pulp into small items which are then rinsed down the drain. After 1-3 minutes the machine is ready to be used again.

What medical pulp products will we need?

A good start is checking your current usage of plastic pans. There are pulp matches for all items.
The most common pulp items are:

• Commode pan or "figure of eights" for use in commode chairs.
• Slipper or Fracture pans, for patients needing to stay in bed.
• Wash bowls, including soap resistant model.
• Kidney dish and others for storing small hygienic items.

Check your wipes are maceratable, which should cover both disposing properly in a macerator and drain system and being bio-friendly once in the sewers. An easy way to test this if your wipes are most likely macerator friendly is whether they can be torn in both directions.  As a quick test: the material should tear easily in both directions.

Is the single use system OK for the environment?

Pulp and maceratable wipes are made from recycled plants! They are primarily cellulose, an organic, non-toxic material found in plant cell walls. Nonetheless, always check with your consumable suppliers.
Almost all countries have sewage networks routing to sewage treatment facilities. Treatment facilities are designed to handle all types of waste-water, from domestic and commercial properties, as well as often from road, farm and industrial run-off, with the end product being safe to discharge into water courses. Pulp products are one of the more easily handled materials within sewage.
If your site is "off mains grid", for example with your own sewage treatment facility, then check with the provider or servicing firm for that equipment.

How many items can fit in a machine at once?

It depends.
Most machines are specified for either 1 or 4 average items. 1 item machines are better for single patient rooms; 4 item machines for larger rooms or wards of up to 20 patients.
However pulp items are all different sizes, and you should check your machine supplier's specifications. 8 or more small kidney dishes might be possible; compared to 1 heavy-duty wash bowl.

How many medical pulp items will we need? Per patient, per day?

Again, this depends on the type of ward and the patients.
We generally find a ward of 20 will use 50 cycles a day, equating to around 75 pulp items per day. Some macerators feature smart technology which can track usage to help you budget and plan pulp purchasing.

Are bedpan macerators noisy?

Bedpan machines are rated in decibels (dBA), which relates to the average sound level during its cycle.
Hospital macerators generally range from 54dB (quiet conversation) to 70dB (loud). Quieter is generally better, and more expensive, as it is less likely to keep patients/clients awake and is nicer for staff; though you may find that if sluicerooms are far from patients then you can get away with a louder unit.
If noise is important to you, we recommend you ask to trial units, or visit some in situ, as the duration of the sound and its frequency (high pitch or low rumble) can affect concentration or calm in a way that the simple dBA number can’t represent.

Do bedpan machines block drains?

A well installed unit with approved drainage should not block drains. The mixture of pulp and water flows down plastic and metal pipework smoothly. However user error, less effective macerator flushing systems and incorrect installation can cause problems.
While everyone knows flat or upwards-sloping pipes don’t work, a common mistake is thinking that steeper pipes are better. If the pipes are too steep, or the water-pulp mix is flushed down all in one go, then the water can run ahead of the slower-moving pulp, leaving the pulp to settle and dry out. Instead ensure the length, diameter, and slope of your pipework are within specification, and that your macerator flushes water down after the pulping cycle to ensure the pipes are left clean. Saving water is great, but only if your pipes stay clear.

How do I install a medical macerator?

Ask your machine supplier. Most are willing to provide an installer, training on installations, or even just a walkthrough of their product installation guide.
Before starting the installation, ensure connections to services are available (clear water pipe, dirty water drain, and electrics), and easily isolated within reach of the unit. The floor should be solid, and you should assess the layout of your sluiceroom.
Installation does require connecting to those service, so ensure you have gained relevant site approvals, and are suitable competent/qualified in electrics and plumbing.
The installation itself is then not dissimilar from fitting a domestic washing machine. Just follow the product guidelines.
After installation, most manufacturers recommend a commissioning visit to ensure the unit is operating safely as designed.
Always check the power supply type before ordering - for example single vs three phase.

Would I need to refurbish my sluice room?

Generally, sluice rooms will have the necessary plumbing and electric connections to install a macerator, but we advise requesting a site survey by your supplier. You (or they) will need to check the dimensions of the machine and whether there is sufficient space to install it. Usually, macerators can fit into very small rooms with minimal changed to the room, but this will depend on the site.

How do we service a bedpan macerator?

Ask your supplier for information. Most have a network of maintenance engineering or can provide training for your team.
Most machines recommend servicing each 6-12 months. Once they are out of warranty period, many estates managers make their own assessment of needs: machines with high use (such as A&E wards) or those with high uptime requirement (ITU wards) might be most reliable with quarterly servicing, lower use machines (eg wards with mobile patients) can be on annual servicing or react only when there is an issue.
Servicing typically requires isolating the machine, systematically checking all components, and repairing / replacing when needed.
Call-out responses require diagnostics and high availability of spare parts so that issues can be fixed first time.

What else will we need to go with a bedpan machine?

Broad categories include:

• Pulp macerators
• Pulp items
• Bed pan supports
• Maceratable wipes
• Comprehensive training for care professionals, and ward manager information
• Machine maintenance: dedicated provider, spare parts supply, or training for your in-house team
• Optional: lids, bags, gels.

Where can I buy medical pulp items?

Pulp items are generally available on the internet, or direct from manufacturers when purchased in large volumes. Large order commitments can help you obtain lower pricing; however we generally recommend staying clear of long term commitments (unless the pricing is fixed) so you can retain your flexibility in future.

How do I clean a bedpan machine?

Routine cleaning: Usually a daily quick wipe over the outside of the machine with a sanitising cloth is recommended to keep bugs at bay. Some machines have anti-bacterial materials to prevent bacterial growth: this is recommended, but should not be the only defence against bacteria. Ask your supplier to confirm/evidence which surfaces are (or are not) anti-bacterial.
Deep cleaning the hopper: Sometimes pulp, fats and other material can build up inside the “hopper” of the machine. Running the machine once with a urine bottle filled with warm water, a little soap, and a little salt can help. If it doesn’t clear all the dirt: repeat or consider a deeper cleaning process. Always confirm your proposed process with your supplier and apply your own risk assessments.