The pen is mightier than the scrub: hospitals warn of ink stains

Utrecht University Medical Center is urging its medical staff to inspect their pockets before laundering their scrubs, as ink stains from pens and markers have become a growing issue for hospital laundry services. Hundreds of uniforms are discarded each week in Dutch hospitals due to the presence of these unwanted items. A spokesperson for CleanLease, the laundry company responsible for Utrecht hospitals' laundry, revealed that x-rays are used to detect 99 percent of the ink-stained items.

However, pens and markers continue to pose a significant challenge. A single pen can lead to the rejection of an entire batch of uniforms, resulting in 50 uniforms being discarded weekly at UMC Utrecht. Celina Kroon, the Sustainability Manager at UMC Utrecht, emphasized the importance of returning to basic hygiene practices, such as checking pockets for pens and removing them before putting on scrubs.

The hospital's struggle with this issue stems from the ongoing shortage of materials, staff, and costs in healthcare.