Persbericht van 21 jan. 2008
Proventec (AIM:PROV), a provider of specialist steam cleaning technologies, announces that it has been awarded a 14-month tender for the sole provision of specialist steam cleaning equipment by the National Health Service (“NHS”) Purchase and Supply Agency.

The tender agreement, won by Osprey DeepClean (“Osprey”), the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, is a direct response to the UK Government’s £50 million of extra funding for the Strategic Health Authority. The agreement has an option of a further one year extension.

David Chestnutt, Chief Executive of Proventec, said: “This is a significant contract for Proventec and rewards the Company for its commitment to innovation and problem solving. Proventec has undertaken an eighteen month programme of product development and rigorous microbiological performance trials with University College London Hospitals (UCLH) resulting in purpose designed steam cleaning tools for hospital equipment cleaning that can help combat the ‘superbug’ epidemic. The NHS Trusts have recognised the benefits of our technology and we are already starting to see strong demand convert into orders”.

“Hospitals have a duty of care to provide a clean environment for patients. There have been accusations that the Government’s recent initiative for a national deep clean is merely a gimmick. It is not. Rather, it is a long awaited overhaul of all UK NHS Trusts. However, it is not enough unless future ongoing cleaning regimes are prioritised and upheld. Patients everywhere deserve wards that are cleaned regularly and thoroughly, it is only through this process that we will break the cycle of hospital-acquired infections.”

Conventional deep cleaning of hospitals traditionally has involved emptying wards to enable staff to carry out comprehensive decontamination. Osprey’s dry saturated steam cleaning machines and cleaning methodology can be used to rid all areas of micro-organisms, including ‘superbugs’ such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile, without compromising safety and without the need to remove patients.

Osprey’s machines have been designed to be used to decontaminate wards and clean patient equipment on a daily basis in order to maintain high standards of hygiene. The Company has applied for patents on its specialist tooling enabling staff to clean all areas of the hospital including; mattresses, curtains and bed frames as well as walls and floor, without the use of antimicrobial chemicals that may contribute to microbial resistance.

David Chestnutt, Chief Executive of Proventec, added: “Through working through the ‘Science of Healthcare Cleaning’ with guidance from Infection control professionals within NHS hospitals and equipment suppliers, we have set new standards for hospital hygiene and redefined ‘clean’. Our unique steam equipment is the only validated technology that has the full data to substantiate that we can achieve a viable method of surface disinfection, to support proactive infection prevention and control, yet which allows patients to remain on the wards.”

Proventec continues to invest in market development. Osprey Steam Products and cleaning technique are currently in the final stages of scientific validation at TNO, Zeist, Netherlands, designed to set new Pan-European and Pan-American standards for microbiological decontamination of surfaces with dry steam vapour.

Furthermore, Osprey continues to collaborate with original equipment manufacturers of patient beds and equipment to confirm compatibility of Osprey’s steam vapour cleaning with their products and materials and that the procedure does not infringe upon warranty standards or conditions.
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