The Serco Linen Team has proudly delivered its 50 millionth linen item since the opening of Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) in 2015.
This milestone represents a decade’s dedication to supporting patient care via reliable, high-quality linen services: a vital component of a hygienic, safe, efficient hospital environment.
How the Linen Service plays a critical behind-the-scenes role 🥼
Through strong coordination and responsiveness, our Linen Team ensures essential items, from patient bedsheets to gowns and staff scrubs, are always where they need to be, exactly when needed.
Reliability, staff hygiene, and strict infection control standards are priorities, from collection and stock management right through to quality checks and timely delivery.
Top 3 Linen Items Utilised at FSH:
🚿 Bath Towels: 7 million uses
🛏️ Pillowcases: 6.7 million uses
⬜ White Blankets: 5.2 million uses
Oliver Valentine, Serco’s Distribution Services Operations Manager, said, “Reaching this milestone reflects the team's commitment to excellence. Every item delivered plays a part in supporting patient care and hospital operations. It is a proud moment for all involved in the Linen Service, who've now delivered the equivalent of 19,231 years of laundry for a single household doing five loads weekly.” 🧺
A dependable supply of clean, high-quality linen across the hospital supports clinical areas around the clock, underpinning safe patient care and comfort, and keeping workflows moving efficiently. Technology and collaboration enable these results.
⚙️ Automation in Action
16 Automated Guided Vehicles are dedicated to hospital-wide linen transport. These motorised trolleys reduce manual handling and injury risk, completing over 1,200 deliveries each week across 350 kilometres and 41 drop-off points. This automation improves safety and efficiency, reflecting Serco's commitment to innovation in healthcare services.
🔍 Linen Use Optimisation
Each linen item is tagged with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to monitor usage, manage inventory and meet operational and emergency needs. Tagging supports efficient lifecycle management, ensuring stock availability at all distribution points.
🧭 Tackling Lost Linen
Linen that has been discarded, stored in lockers, or otherwise removed from circulation can't be scanned by RFID, making it difficult to track and manage.
The South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) Contract Management Team and the Serco AsPac Linen Service have formed a Lost Linen Committee focused on reducing linen loss through improved awareness, handling practices and collaborative strategies.
As a result, Contract Year 2024/25 recorded the lowest lost linen figures since FSH opened. The first quarter of 2025 was the most successful to date. This marks the fourth consecutive year of reduced volume and spend, reinforcing the impact of strong partnership between the Serco Linen Team, clinicians, and the SMHS Contract Management Team.