Working towards a safer and more sustainable NHS by innovating cost-effective solutions.
Evolution to Eco Ninjas
Company background
When training an operating theatre team in February 2020, Danielle was asked to write her name and role onto her disposable theatre hat. Danielle was so inspired by the idea and the many fantastic benefits it offered that she decided to make it her mission to facilitate the implementation of personalised theatre hats throughout the UK.
When researching personalised theatre hats, she found there was a gap in the market for companies offering latex-free, personalised theatre hats with little or no knowledge in the medical sales world which has been a specialty of Danielle's for over 10 years.
With this in mind she decided to set up Warwick Med and teamed up with Neil, her brother, who specialises in finance, business and web design. They could both see the huge benefits and positive impacts which named theatre caps could generate.
Warwick Med have been working to supply reusable embroidered theatre caps for over three years to various NHS hospitals in the UK and have developed extensive knowledge and expertise around this topic.
As a team, they have worked with universities, sustainability leaders and various consultants in conducting evaluations, microbial studies and feel aware of the main pros and cons of implementing personalised reusable theatre hats. They have now designed and created a new range of personalised products.
Evolution
When Warwick Med was set up at the outset, the strapline was Eco Ninjas and due to positive, likable feedback on this strapline (which also matched the logo), they have now evolved branding to fit this narrative. A professional company with a fun style and image to give the end user a feel for who the company are and what the products represent.
The personalised embroidery on the reusable theatre hats has also evolved into a more effective way of successfully identifying all staff within the theatre department but without the time-consuming and complex nature of collating all information required in order to manufacture bespoke embroidered garments.
Eco Ninjas have successfully combined a reusable theatre hat with a modern innovative name badge!
Embroidered garments do not form part of the national uniform workwear for many reasons. The tried and tested methodology of plain garments/uniforms with name badges attached, to identify all personnel is exactly what has evolved with their new theatre badge hat product range!
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When we formed Warwick Med and uncovered so many complications and issues with regards to hospitals trying to collate the information required to order personalised embroidered theatre hats, we knew that we could find a better way to do it, so we set out on a long journey of research, understanding and product testing.
We have investigated a plethora of fixation methods and badge materials: from magnets to Velcro to a plastic window/pocket on hats and we eventually found the perfect fixation and innovative name badge. You can see from the images above how we have arrived at our destination of our new identifiable badge hats which are easy to attach, remove and clean!
History of theatre attire
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After World War One and the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, the use of caps, face masks and rubber gloves, in addition to the white gowns, became common attire for surgeons and their assistants in the operating theatre. The purpose of the mask was to protect the surgeon from the patient’s diseases, rather than protecting the patient from infections, but these additional accessories were not universally worn.
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By the 1940s, advances in aseptic techniques and a better understanding of wound infection meant more stringent measures became routine, to reduce the spread of germs in the operating theatre. Along with the sterilisation of instruments and dressings, having a standard surgical uniform was an element in the battle to prevent post-operative infections.
White is the colour we associate with cleanliness and was originally used for surgical gowns. Unfortunately, the bright operating lights in an all-white environment caused eyestrain. By the 1960s, most hospitals had moved to gowns in shades of green to provide a visual contrast. Originally known as ‘surgical greens’, they came to be called ‘scrubs’ because they are worn in a ‘scrubbed’ or sterile environment.
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Surgical attire had largely evolved to its modern state in the 1970s. Scrubs are unisex two-piece outfits consisting of a short-sleeve V-necked shirt and drawstring trousers made of cotton/polyester; designed to be comfortable and durable. They can withstand laundering at high temperatures for sterilisation purposes but are easily replaced. In addition to the scrubs when operating, surgeons wear a surgical gown with tie-back or bouffant-style cap to cover their hair, a face mask, latex gloves, and clog-like rubber theatre shoes. We have come a long way from the blood-stained frock coat!
Isaac, 2018, Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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