Single use personal protective gowns could be a thing of the past with a reusable fabric gown that can be washed up to 50 times set to launch at Bendigo Health in August.
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Bendigo Health approached Mooroopna-based linen supplier Gouge Linen and Garment Service, looking for a reusable and environmentally friendly gown.
Gouge will soon roll out a gown made from a barrier fabric, which has been tested to resist fluid penetration.
The gowns will be fitted with a radio-frequency identification chip, which stores information about how many times the gown has been washed.
"The RFID chip is similar to one used by vets in pets," Gouge director Rob Priestly said.
"Each time the gown appears in our laundry and we wash it, we record that against the chip number so we can see the total number of washes.
"As the gowns are processed, they are automatically removed from service after a certain number of washes.
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of central Victorian general practices found it difficult to secure a reliable supply of personal protective equipment, including gowns.
Doctors at a Lucan Street general practice, The GP Clinic, resorted to sewing their own gowns to meet the shortfall.
Mr Priestly said reusable gowns are not only environmentally friendly, but they don't rely on long supply chains, which take time to react to unexpected demand.
"The gowns have met the same infection control protocols as disposable gowns, but with a greater security of supply and a lesser environmental impact," he said.
The gowns have received approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
A Bendigo Health spokesperson said the health service is pleased to secure a supply of the reusable gowns.
"The fabric gowns provide a sustainable, long-term personal protective equipment solution to protect staff working in high-risk areas," the spokesperson said.
In laundering the gowns, Mr Priestly said Gouge add a small amount of a specialist chemical to recoat the gowns and rejuvenate the barrier effect.
"The first 2000 gowns will be here in about two to three weeks and we are expecting to see a lot more than that," he said.
"The barrier fabrics themselves have been around for a while, and RFID chips are growing in popularity in the textile industry.
"Those things coming together makes this product innovative, particularly in the current pandemic."
The cost to purchase, transport and launder the gowns is expected to be cost comparative to single use gowns, according to Mr Priestly.
"When you take into account the significant cost of waste disposal, the benefits to the environment and the security of supply, the benefits outweigh disposable gowns," he said.
