Linen Department Leads the Way in Going Paperless

The Linen Department within GMS is setting a strong example for sustainability and smarter working by cutting customer‑related paper usage by more than 80%. This achievement marks a significant step in modernising processes while supporting the Trust’s environmental ambitions.

By working closely with suppliers, the team has already transitioned all invoicing to a fully paperless system. This shift removes unnecessary paperwork and creates a faster and more efficient way of managing orders and records.

Further innovation is on the way. The department will soon introduce handheld terminals for linen exchange trolleys, allowing staff to record deliveries electronically in real time as they move through wards. This upgrade will improve accuracy, speed up the service and reduce reliance on printed forms even more.

Dawn Hayward, Linen Manager, said:
“I am incredibly proud of how the team has embraced these changes. Moving to a paperless approach is helping us work more efficiently while supporting the Trust’s sustainability goals. The handheld terminals will make a real difference to the service we provide to wards and we are excited to take this next step.”

Sue Gott, Associate Director of Facilities, added:
“The Linen Department has shown great initiative in pushing forward digital improvements that benefit staff and patients. Their efforts align strongly with our wider commitment to greener working across GMS and the Trust. Several other departments are already exploring similar opportunities, and we look forward to supporting them on that journey.”

GMS will continue to share updates as more teams adopt digital solutions that improve service delivery while reducing environmental impact.