Several products from Caroma’s extensive range of toilets and basins were specified for the St George Hospital in Kogarah, Sydney during its $307 million redevelopment. The eight-level Acute Services Building is the centrepiece of this redevelopment and will include an intensive care department, eight operating theatres, 128 additional inpatient beds and a rooftop helipad. The new cutting-edge health facility is designed by Jacobs, an international architectural firm with global expertise in healthcare design.

Jacobs specialises in designing state-of-the-art health facilities with a focus on maintaining high patient care standards and promoting patient safety.

Designing for optimum hygiene in healthcare spaces

In a 2015 research report, the Centre for Health Design had emphasised the importance of environmental cleanliness in the safe and efficient delivery of healthcare. Given the growing problem of hospital acquired infection in healthcare facilities around the world, it is imperative for architects and designers to prioritise this issue in both the physical design and fitout of medical facilities. This is particularly important when it comes to the specification of bathroom fittings and fixtures such as sinks and toilets, which have been linked to infections picked up in healthcare environments.

Well-designed sinks and toilets, for instance, will not only inhibit bacterial growth, but also simplify cleaning, helping create hygienic healthcare spaces and reducing the incidence of hospital acquired infections.

Easy clean toilets, basins and medical basins

Caroma products were specified by Jacobs for the St George Hospital redevelopment. The Urbane, Liano and Care 800 wall faced toilets incorporating Caroma’s Cleanflush rimless technology were specified for the bathrooms. The rimless design of Cleanflush eliminates the problem of dangerous germs accumulating under the rim, further simplifying the cleaning process. Caroma’s innovative Flow Splitter and Sculpted Flow Contour technology combines with the no-rim design to allow for a whole bowl flush, resulting in a more hygienic toilet. Care 800 toilets were specified with a backrest for AS1428.1 compliance, which is essential for patients with temporary or permanent limited mobility.

Caroma’s Care 500, 600 and 700 wall basins were also specified for the new acute care facility. Care 500 and 700 basins are designed to meet Type C basin requirements under the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines Part D – Infection prevention and control, which makes them appropriate for public, patient and staff amenities in the hospital. These basins are also fitted with the Caroma Care Shroud, which covers the S-bends and drains underneath, thus eliminating another bacteria trap and making them easier to keep hygienically clean.

Care 600 basins are designed to meet Type B basin requirements, making them appropriate for patient care areas requiring hand hygiene by staff and visitors. These basins have been designed with optimal basin waste and tapware landing projections to significantly reduce backsplash, which is associated with patient infection. Fully integrated shrouds further enhance infection control for the staff.

For the surgical areas, Jacobs specified Caroma wall hung medical basins featuring an easy-clean streamlined design to ensure the highest standard of hygiene.