Hospital procurement guide
Türkçe okuHospital Textile Specification Checklist: What to Include in a Tender
What hospital procurement teams should specify when buying bed sheets, pillows, blankets, patient gowns, towels and waterproof mattress protectors: fabric, weight, size and laundering criteria, plus a checklist for comparing quotes.
By Nomedika · Updated
Criteria common to every item
Quotes can only be compared if every supplier answers the same headings in writing. A request that just says 'white bed sheet' invites quotes for very different qualities on the same line.
- Fabric composition (e.g. 100% cotton or the poly-cotton ratio)
- Fabric weight (g/m²) and, for woven items, thread count
- Size and tolerance (including shrinkage after washing)
- Colour and colour-fastness expectation
- Wash temperature and tumble-dry suitability
- Pack unit, labelling and any logo requirement
- Unit price, total, VAT/taxes, lead time and payment terms
Bed sheets and pillowcases
- Style: fitted (elasticated) or flat sheet
- Mattress size: width, length and depth (depth is essential for fitted sheets)
- Pillowcase closure (envelope recommended) and size (commonly about 50×70 cm)
- Ask for a blended-fabric alternative to be priced separately where shrinkage and drying time matter
Pillows, blankets and bedspreads
- Pillow: fill type, fill weight (grams), outer fabric, shape retention after washing
- Blanket: fabric type, weight and single size
- Bedspread: weave type and weight
- If blankets and bedspreads share one total quantity, ask for separate unit prices
Patient gowns
- Style: back-tie or snap-button; sleeve type
- Fabric composition and wash temperature
- Size range and size split (ask the supplier to propose a split if unknown)
- Colour/print and any logo requirement
Bath and hand towels
- Size: commonly about 70×140 cm for bath and 50×90 cm for hand towels
- Weight (GSM): the main comparison criterion for institutional use
- Fibre: 100% cotton; hem and stitch type
- Washing and tumble-dry conditions
Waterproof mattress protectors
- Layers: top fabric and waterproof membrane type
- Fixing: fully fitted, corner straps or ties
- Size: mattress width, length and depth
- Wash and dry temperature limits of the membrane
Comparing quotes
The lowest unit price is not always the lowest total cost. For frequently laundered hospital textiles, weight, fabric blend and stitch quality decide how many wash cycles an item survives.
- Put quotes with the same weight and composition side by side
- Ask whether sizes are stated before or after washing
- Request samples for large orders and test them in your own laundry
- Ask for the delivery plan (single or staged) in writing
What is the most important criterion in a hospital bed sheet specification?
Fabric composition, weight/thread count and resistance to wash temperature should be specified together. Without these three, quotes are not comparable.
Which dimensions are needed for fitted sheets?
Mattress width, length and depth; a fitted sheet that does not cover the depth will not stay on the mattress.
Should we request samples for bulk orders?
For large quantities, testing samples through several wash cycles in your own laundry shows shrinkage and colour change before you commit.