The impact of COVID has significantly changed the global landscape, and businesses are still trying to find their footing. In this blog, our MIP experts look at the top industry trends we expect to see in 2022.
Continued global supply chain disruption
With the pandemic causing global disruptions to shipping, along with adjustments to regulations and processes following Brexit, most businesses have experienced unprecedented supply chain challenges, disruptions, delays and additional expenses.
Dan Gaffney, Warehousing and Logistics Manager at MIP UK commented “The continuation of high freight cost is expected to continue throughout much of 2022. In addition to high global container rates, transportation costs in the UK remain high due to; driver shortages, port congestion, fuel prices, and the ongoing effects of Brexit.”
Sustainability and green initiatives
Sustainable and green initiatives are becoming more important for businesses around the world, brought into focus following the COP26 Summit in November 2021. For those that work in the healthcare sector this is nothing new, as back in October 2020 the NHS became the world’s first health service to commit to reaching net zero carbon emissions and as a result, many businesses involved in healthcare in the UK are already on this journey. As a reusable healthcare textile manufacturer, MIP has always been at the forefront of sustainability and will look to continue that effort with additional green initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint.
Tackling staff shortages
Following Brexit (changes to the UK’s access to the EU labour market), and more recently with vaccinations becoming mandatory amongst NHS and care home workers, staff shortages across healthcare are expected to remain a key issue in 2022.
Whilst there is no quick fix to the solution, we expect hospitals and care homes to implement several initiatives throughout 2022, including recruitment advertising campaigns and overseas recruitment / visa schemes, alongside time savings initiatives, such as new resource planning tools.
Growth in Home Healthcare
A growing ageing population in an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as incontinence, ostomy, diabetic foot ulcers, is putting increasing economic burden on Health and Social care. The advancements in medical device technology, their accessibility and affordability has allowed many people to access the care they need in their own home. “The accessibility of medical devices and care products through online and brick & mortar stores is seeing the adoption of home healthcare as opposed to care homes grow significantly” comments Steve Gould, Business Development Manager at MIP UK. The UK Home Healthcare Market was valued at 1,192.6 Million dollars (USD) in 2018 and is projected to reach 1,951.7 Million dollars (USD) by 2026, a CAGR of 6.4%*.
Hospitals will look to catch-up on non-COVID operations waiting list
As of September 2021, a record 5.8 million patients were waiting for surgery - such as hip or knee replacements - with 300,000 waiting more than a year compared with just 1,600 before the pandemic. To help tackle the backlogs, the government have provided an additional £5.9bn, although a recent report highlighted that the staff shortages across the NHS needs to be addressed for this to be effective. “Staffing levels which have been more recently affected due to the Omicron variant, are expected to return to previous levels and we are expecting a subsequent surge in elective surgeries and of course an increase in demand for reusable theatre textiles” says Colin Massey, Business Development Manager for MIP UK.
Rising Energy Costs
The rising costs of energy has been well publicised, which notably impacts hospital laundries. Hospitals and healthcare facilities cannot function without bedlinen, patient gowns and scrubs/surgical gowns. Significant increases in energy prices pose a real risk to those laundries that service the industry.
Paul Crabtree, Managing Director at MIP UK commented “laundries may look to shift their focus on sourcing textiles with greater polyester or poly-cotton materials to reduce washing times and in-turn reduce overall energy consumption. At MIP we continue to develop products that wash more efficiently to help support our laundry customers.”
* https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/u-k-home-healthcare-market-100866
