From: Ian
Category: Miscellaneous
Date: 26 Aug 2009
Time: 12:05:58 +0200
Remote Name: 217.43.109.120
In a news announcement today, it is revealed that robot tugs will be used to transport laundry and clinical waste when the new super-hospital is built in Bristol. The hi-tech machines, called automated guided vehicles (AGVs), will run in the service corridors around the new Southmead Hospital site to carry heavy and dirty items away from the view of patients and visitors.
A great idea, if planed and implemented properly. Of course, for clinical wastes the containers or trolleys to be towed by these robot tugs must be fit for purpose and not, as so often used the grill-sides general purpose trolleys hospitals have been using for years. If Eurocarts are to be used, all should be well, though robots do not stop to secure the load from overfilled carts, nor pick up spilled wastes [nor do many ancillary staff, but that's another story!]