The latest news we’re hearing from DHSC is that vinyl and nitrile glove supplies are rapidly depleting at the Government PPE portal, and so care homes will, once again be required to source their own supply.
And the BIG question is, which gloves will you be buying?
In recent years, vinyl gloves have become the glove of choice for everyday use in care homes, because they offer the following benefits:
Comfort – they’re very comfortable to wear and provide excellent dexterity, making them an ideal choice for tasks that require fine motor skills.
Latex-free – they make an excellent alternative for those who have latex allergies or sensitivities.
Cost-effective – they’re relatively inexpensive, making them a cost-effective choice for healthcare facilities that need to purchase gloves in large quantities.
Easy to put on and take off - making them a convenient option for healthcare workers who need to change gloves frequently.
However, during and since the pandemic, due to their superior protection levels, care homes have been enjoying the luxury of being provided with nitrile gloves, free, through the Government PPE portal. Nitrile gloves are made of synthetic rubber and offer the following benefits:
Strength and durability - nitrile gloves are stronger and more durable than vinyl gloves, making them an excellent choice for high-risk tasks.
Chemical resistance - they’re resistant to chemicals, making them an excellent choice for tasks that involve exposure to chemicals.
Latex-free – making them an excellent alternative for those who have latex allergies or sensitivities.
Puncture resistance: Nitrile gloves are highly resistant to punctures, making them an ideal choice for tasks that involve sharp objects.
So Are Vinyl Gloves As Effective As Nitrile?
Vinyl gloves are an excellent choice for low-risk tasks that don’t require high levels of protection, while the nitrile option are better suited for high-risk tasks that do need a higher protection levels, such as contact with blood and bodily fluids.
The choice of glove will depend on the specific needs of your care home and the tasks your staff need to perform.
Due to the excellent benefits and higher protection levels offered by nitrile gloves, they are higher in cost per item than vinyl, and with many other rising costs in care homes, are they a nice to have product, or a need to have?
Have your staff got used to the added strength and durability of nitrile, and how easy will it be to make the transition back to traditional vinyl?
Will you be in the vinyl or nitrile camp?
Here at Hcsuk, we’re passionate about providing fit-for-purpose product solutions and helping to guide care homes to make informed decisions about appropriate and correct product choices.
So, we thought now is the perfect time to share some of the articles and resources we’ve produced on glove usage to help you make the right glove selections.
If you need help determining which glove is suitable for which tasks, we recommend you read this article
If you need to complete a risk assessment for the appropriate use of gloves in care environments Click here to read
How to complete a risk-assessment for the appropriate use of examination-gloves-in care environments
There are so many different qualities of gloves available, at various price points, how do you know which ones are suitable and going to provide the right level of protection for your staff?
If you need help to make informed buying decisions on the right quality of glove which meets the right standards you will find the following article handy! (pardon the pun!) Learn more here.
Understanding the 4 major parts of disposable-glove-testing
And one of our most popular articles during the pandemic covers glove usage and hand hygiene. Read more here.
how-does-wearing-of-disposable-gloves-affect-the-need-for-hand-hygiene
We also asked our friends at ChatGPT what the most frequently asked questions are about glove usage in care homes, so we’ve added in a few more pieces of helpful information to cover all bases:
What are the different types of gloves available for use in care homes?
The most commonly used gloves in care homes are vinyl, nitrile, and latex gloves. Each type of glove has its own benefits and drawbacks, and the choice of glove will depend on the specific needs of the care home and the tasks that need to be performed.
Can latex gloves be used in care homes?
Latex gloves can be used in care homes, however they’re no longer widely used as they’re not recommended for those who have latex allergies or sensitivities and some areas have banned the use of latex.
How often should gloves be changed in care homes?
Gloves should be changed after every use or as soon as they become visibly soiled or damaged. Healthcare workers should also change gloves between caring for different residents to prevent cross-contamination.
Are gloves enough to prevent the spread of infection in care homes?
Gloves are only one part of infection control and should be used in conjunction with other measures such as hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of infection in care homes.
How should gloves be disposed of in care homes?
Gloves should be disposed of in a designated waste bin immediately after use. Healthcare workers should follow the care home's waste disposal guidelines to ensure that gloves are disposed of safely and appropriately.
We hope you’ve found this article valuable, and if you have any more questions about the use of gloves in care homes, please get in touch with us today, and here’s the link again for our Glove Guidance Guide.
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