Queen congratulates Vernacare on product innovation

Vernacare win Queens Award for Innovation 2011

Karen and Lesley are congratulated by the Queen at a celebration event for Queen's Award for Enterprise winners

Vernacare's achievement in developing the world's first detergent proof disposable wash bowl was recognised by Her Majesty the Queen during a visit to Buckingham Palace by directors of the infection prevention products manufacturing business.

Earlier this year Vernacare was announced as a winner of the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise for its innovative wash bowl, and directors were invited to a special winners' ceremony in July, hosted by the Queen.

The  unique single-use pulp wash bowl was developed with help from NHS clinicians to meet demand from infection prevention nurses who identified that re-using plastic wash bowls without properly cleaning and drying was a significant infection risk. The wash bowl is used  by more than a third of NHS Hospitals and hospitals across the globe for hand washing, general surface cleaning, wound care, shaving, continence and patient care.

Karen Haslam, Chief Executive of Vernacare, said: "We were honoured to meet the Queen and proud to tell her that our wash bowl is at the forefront of the global drive to combat hospital acquired infections.  The celebrations will continue in autumn when the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire will visit our headquarters to formally present the award and congratulate all those involved."

The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are made annually by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, and are granted for five years.

Vernacare's research and development and production teams spent two years creating the unique detergent resistant pulp formula, working with the company's clinical advisory group and NHS nurses to develop and trial the product.

The wash bowl provides a time saving, hygienic and environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional process of chemically disinfecting, washing and drying plastic washbowls at high temperatures, and the problem of disposing of plastic which is almost impossible to biodegrade. It also saves money on energy consumption and clinical/landfill waste disposal

Vernacare's business was founded on innovation almost 50 years ago when the company pioneered the 'Vernacare System' which provides single use pulp products for patients who are not fully mobile and a macerator to dispose of them. This is a best practice method used in more than 40 countries, and by 90% of UK hospitals.

The company is an eco-friendly ISO 14001 approved manufacturer - using recycled newsprint, and no bleach or dye in its products. It is the only pulp manufacturer that carries a British quality Kitemark.

The wash bowl is one of 150 million pulp products made each year by Vernacare, which also  manufactures the market-leading Vortex macerator pulp waste disposal machines.