Medstrom
Medstrom has already replaced 50 per cent of its company car fleet with pure electric vehicles.


Specialist hospital beds manufacturer Medstrom is hoping that the sustainable, green initiatives it has invested in will make a difference in reducing its environmental footprint and help to support the UK’s healthcare sector.

Steps the firm has taken has included investing in an entirely electric vehicle fleet in the next few years and growing its EV charging infrastructure, as well as helping the NHS reach its sustainable healthcare targets for reduced carbon footprint, water use and waste management.

Growing significantly in recent years, Medstrom explains how the steps it has taken will help to boost job availability with the UK-based healthcare manufacturer whilst maintaining efficient and green practices.


Words Thomas Belli

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The call for sustainability has never been louder. Buoyed by the famous faces, countless documentaries, and even a simple glance out the window, it’s enough to show just how much the environment deserves our immediate attention and corrective actions.

Announcements from the Government have already set the UK on the path to net zero by 2050, with plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 68 per cent by the end of the decade.

Medstrom is proudly making in-roads towards achieving these goals in the healthcare sector, investing significantly in numerous green initiatives.

Powered by electric

Among the most prominent projects for the UK-based healthcare manufacturer and supplier is increasing the number of electric vehicles within its fleet.

The company has already replaced 50 per cent of its company car fleet with pure electric vehicles and are committed to being completely electric by 2023.

The next challenge is the company’s fleet of vans. Medstrom CEO, David Belli, commented: “The aim is to replace our entire fleet of petrol and diesel company vehicles with clean energy alternatives and having made such great progress with our cars, the conversion of our service vans is the next target.

“Our technicians are out installing and maintaining essential medical equipment throughout the UK and Ireland, so having a green transport network will really help reduce the environmental impact of our business. Testament to our aggressive targets for reductions in emissions and fossil fuel usage.

“Further Government measures involve banning the sale of non-zero emission cars by 2030, and the development of an adequate national charging infrastructure is crucial to encourage the wider spread adoption of electric vehicles.

“There are some obvious opportunities to introduce electric vans immediately, particularly into urban areas like London where the daily mileage is largely fixed and predictable and the vans can be charged at a service centre overnight.

“In other parts of the country, it is a bit more of a challenge, particularly with vehicles designated for a more reactive and unpredictable 24/7 workload to strict delivery deadlines.

“We are partnering with specialist electric vehicle provider DriveElectric to evaluate the suitability of current technology for our wider fleet and are investing in charging points at company facilities and employees’ homes in readiness for larger scale adoption.

“There are some very exciting developments with new specialist manufacturers such as Arrival entering the market. Together with the rollout of high-speed charging networks across the UK, this will hopefully allow us to be 100 per cent electric within the next two to three years.”

Supporting healthcare with renewable targets

Medstrom also plays an active role in supporting healthcare organisations manage their resources sustainably.

In recent years, the NHS has outlined long-term plans targeting key areas such as reduction in carbon footprint, air pollution, water use and waste management, which has allowed Medstrom to partner with Trusts and collaborate on suitable solutions.

One example is via Medstrom’s decontamination service, that optimises the cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment to keep patients and caregivers safe. This incorporates innovative and highly effective Ozone technology, an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional laundry processes.

It works at low or ambient temperatures, using oxygen-rich water to disinfect and destroy 99.999% of harmful micro-organisms, including MRSA, C.difficile spores and Coronavirus. Helping to deliver outstanding results, whilst reducing energy consumption and eliminating the use of harsh bleaching agents.

In addition, Medstrom has worked closely with healthcare organisations to uniquely manage and recycle redundant medical equipment, such as hospital beds.

After coming out of use, the equipment is assessed, repaired and rehomed elsewhere around the world, supporting charities like MAHECAS UK in improving healthcare facilities and patient outcomes.

“To be able to support and enhance the healthcare services in countries like Malawi, whilst reducing the amount of equipment that goes to waste, is great for everyone involved,” says David Belli.

“The difference this makes to patients is fantastic to see and we are proud to have worked with various Trusts and Health Boards to further this sustainable initiative.”

Reducing waste

Working in accordance with ISO14001 accreditation, Medstrom has been dedicated in evaluating work processes to further minimise its environmental impact and reduce waste.

This has extended to the product decontamination process and eradicating disposable cloths, significantly impacting the amount of waste generated by the company.

In addition, efforts to become paperless have intensified by calling a halt on printing brochures, instead encouraging staff to use digital wherever possible. Not only helping staff to work smarter, but more efficiently than ever before.

“These sustainable initiatives not only serve to reduce our environmental footprint but contribute to a healthier society, which, as a healthcare supplier, is really our main priority,” David adds.

“Everyone at Medstrom is always looking for ways to innovate and push the company forward, and for me personally, it’s really exciting to see what developments are in store for the years ahead”.

Medstrom
Medstrom’s decontamination service optimises the cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment.

Recently, Medstrom unveiled a new brand, website and direction as it continues to develop close working relationships with manufacturers across Europe and the US.

At the beginning of the year, Medstrom Healthcare also launched a series of webinars with the vision to provide a space for thought-provoking discussions and the exchange of evidence-based research and practical experiences amongst healthcare professionals and their peers.

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