PatientPak
Sanitas Healthcare plc (formerly PatientPak Holdings Ltd) is a consumer hygiene pack manufacturer and retailer. The original product, PatientPak, was designed for use by patients to protect themselves from healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), and especially from antibiotic resistant pathogens known as ‘superbugs’, when they go into hospital. The ‘Pak’ contains a range of antimicrobial products in the form of wipes and sprays as well as various hygiene and convenience items, such as soap and nailbrush. PatientPak was introduced to the UK market in October 2008.
Sanitas Healthcare plc introduced in October 2009 four new products proven to kill the latest strain of swine flu. They are:
• FluPak
• ProtectGel
• ProtectSpray
• ProtectWipes
These are initially available throughout the Lloyds Pharmacy chain.
History[edit]
The idea behind PatientPak emerged in 2006, when an elderly lady preparing for a stay in hospital asked a friend how she could best protect herself from infection while admitted. They were dismayed to find that there were no commercially available products which would be effective against superbugs such as MRSA. After carrying out considerable research, they selected the most efficacious clinical product available, and repackaged it as a consumer hygiene pack. Over more than two years since then, an extensive research, development and testing programme led by the company’s Founder and CEO, Rob Gros, has produced a variety of antimicrobial products including PatientPak launched in September 2008 and FluPak launched in September 2009.
Media coverage[edit]
PatientPak received a great deal of critical media attention on its launch in October 2008, with articles and pictures in several major UK newspapers, including The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and the London Metro.
Involvement with MRSA Action UK[edit]
Sanitas Healthcare is working with MRSA Action UK,[1] a hospital standards pressure group. Derek Butler, the Chairman of MRSA Action UK has said:
While the NHS cannot guarantee to prevent patients contracting an avoidable healthcare infection, patients will look to prevent themselves from contracting healthcare infections by using items like PatientPak. MRSA Action UK believes that preventing patients contracting avoidable infections is always the best solution."[2]
View from the scientific community[edit]
Professor Richard James, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Nottingham and Director of the Centre for Healthcare Associated Infections, has voiced support for PatientPak and is quoted on the company’s website:
This convenient PatientPak kit is a good idea and offers excellent protection against hospital superbugs and viruses. I would give it to my own relatives who are going into hospital, as it’s far more valuable than a bunch of flowers.[2]
Professor Steve Field, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said the kit, which includes hygiene sprays, wipes, soap, lip balm and a disposable toothbrush and pen, was
a complete waste of time for patients in the NHS It’s nonsense. It’s wrong to exploit the vulnerable, particularly when they are ill, frail and infirm. I would recommend that patients considering buying this go and buy some fruit instead.”[1]
Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:
It is irresponsible and potentially dangerous for PatientPak to even suggest that their product will do anything to tackle healthcare associated infections. The fact that this company openly targets two of the most vulnerable groups of NHS users – older people and pregnant women – is deeply worrying and entirely misleading.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Emily Gosden (25 February 2009). "Former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed mislead consumers over 'PatientPak' kits". Times Online. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.patientpak.com/what-people-say.asp
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Article in the Times
- Article in The Daily Telegraph
- Article in The Sun
- The Independent
- Centre for Healthcare Associated Infections
- MRSA Action UK
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