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Walk into any major Australian hospital using Follett ice dispensers and you'll notice something different. Instead of staff scooping ice from bins – with all the contamination risks that entails – nurses simply hold a jug under a touchless sensor and get perfectly portioned Chewblet ice. No hands. No scoops. No cross-contamination.

It's a simple change that's transformed patient hydration compliance across medical, surgical, and aged care units nationwide.

The Hygiene Crisis Nobody Talks About

For years, hospital ice was an infection control nightmare waiting to happen. Traditional ice bins require manual scooping, creating multiple contamination touchpoints. Every time someone reaches for ice, they're potentially introducing pathogens into the entire supply. In healthcare environments where vulnerable patients face heightened infection risks, this represented an unacceptable compromise.

The shift to dispensed ice wasn't just about convenience – it was about patient safety. When the Follett Symphony 12 Series arrived in Australian hospitals, infection control teams finally had a solution that eliminated the weakest link in their hydration protocols.

Why Chewblet Ice Changed Everything

Here's what most people don't understand about patient hydration: it's not just about providing water. It's about making patients want to drink. Elderly patients with diminished thirst sensation. Post-surgical patients who find plain water unappealing. Medication regimens that require consistent fluid intake. Traditional ice cubes weren't helping – they were often too hard for sensitive mouths, melted too quickly, or simply didn't encourage consumption.

Follett's Chewblet ice – those distinctive soft, chewable nuggets – solved problems we didn't even realise we had. The ice is designed specifically for healthcare environments. Its porous structure absorbs the flavour of whatever it's in, making hydration more appealing. Patients actually enjoy crunching on the ice after finishing their drinks.

More importantly, the soft texture eliminates choking hazards for patients with swallowing difficulties. No sharp edges. No rock-hard cubes. Just safe, chewable ice that encourages fluid intake.

The Dispensers That Make It Work

Coast Distributors supplies three key Follett dispenser series, each producing the same high-quality Chewblet ice but scaled for different hospital applications:

Symphony 12 Series

The workhorse of major hospital units. Produces up to 176kg of Chewblet ice daily with 5.4kg storage. The countertop design fits seamlessly into nurse stations, while touchless dispensing maintains strict hygiene protocols. Automatic self-flushing removes impurities without staff intervention.

7 Series Dispensers

Perfect for smaller units or satellite stations. Produces up to 54.4kg daily with 3.2kg storage. The compact footprint works in space-constrained areas while still delivering the same touchless, hygienic dispensing that infection control demands.

15 Series Dispensers

The versatile middle ground. Produces up to 54kg daily with increased 6.8kg storage capacity. Popular in units with fluctuating demand where the extra storage buffer prevents run-outs during peak hydration times.

All three series share critical healthcare features: touchless sensor dispensing (with lever options available), quiet operation for patient comfort, and antimicrobial protection throughout the food zone. But it's the elimination of manual ice handling that makes the real difference.

Real-World Impact in Australian Hospitals

The impact has been significant across Australian hospitals. But the operational benefits run deeper than just improved hydration.

Nursing staff save significant time previously spent encouraging hydration. When patients actually enjoy their ice, compliance improves naturally. The soft texture works perfectly in bedside carafes without the aggressive clinking of traditional cubes. It moulds easily for ice packs without the bruising risk of hard ice.

From an infection control perspective, the elimination of ice scoops and manual handling has been transformative. No more worrying about contaminated scoops. No more staff reaching into bins. Just clean, portion-controlled ice dispensed directly into containers.

The Hidden Efficiencies

What surprised many hospitals was the operational efficiency gains. Follett dispensers offer significant energy and water savings compared to traditional ice machines. In an era of sustainability targets and stretched budgets, these savings matter.

The automatic self-flushing systems reduce maintenance requirements. The quiet sleep mode turns off ice production during low-demand periods. These aren't headline features, but they're the kind of practical benefits that make finance departments take notice.

Installation Realities for Healthcare

Installing ice dispensers in hospital environments isn't like dropping them into a café. You're dealing with infection control protocols, workflow considerations, and often, heritage building constraints. The Symphony 12 Series' countertop design has been particularly successful because it integrates into existing nurse stations without major renovations.

Water quality remains critical. Hospital-grade filtration isn't optional – it's essential for both ice quality and equipment longevity. The dispensers work with standard hospital water systems, but proper filtration prevents scale buildup that could compromise hygiene or performance.

Placement strategy matters too. Successful implementations position dispensers where staff naturally congregate, not tucked away in corners. When dispensers are conveniently located, they get used. When they're out of the way, staff revert to old habits.

Training That Sticks

The best equipment fails without proper implementation. Successful hospitals don't just install dispensers – they integrate them into hydration protocols. This means training staff not just on operation, but on why dispensed ice matters for patient outcomes.

When nurses understand that Chewblet ice can mean the difference between a dehydrated patient and one meeting fluid targets, they become advocates. When they see infection rates drop and patient satisfaction rise, they protect these systems fiercely.

The Economics of Better Hydration

At first glance, touchless dispensers seem like a luxury. But hospitals running the numbers find compelling returns. Reduced infection rates alone can justify the investment. Add improved patient satisfaction scores, reduced nursing time spent on hydration encouragement, and lower utility costs, and the business case becomes clear.

The 3-year parts and labour warranty (5 years on compressors) provides confidence in long-term reliability. These aren't disposable units – they're infrastructure investments that pay dividends through better patient outcomes.

Beyond the Medical Wards

While medical and surgical units drove initial adoption, Chewblet dispensers have found homes throughout Australian hospitals. Aged care facilities appreciate the swallowing safety. Rehabilitation units use the appealing ice to encourage post-stroke patients to maintain hydration. Even staff break rooms benefit from having quality ice without contamination risks.

The versatility extends to ice pack applications. Chewblet ice moulds perfectly to injuries without the sharp edges of traditional cubes. It provides therapeutic cold without the bruising risk of hard ice. These secondary benefits often surprise hospitals but quickly become indispensable.

Looking Forward

As Australian hospitals face increasing pressure to improve patient outcomes while controlling costs, every advantage matters. Dispensed Chewblet ice might seem like a small detail, but it represents the kind of evidence-based improvement that defines modern healthcare.

The elimination of manual ice handling addresses infection control. The appealing texture improves patient compliance. The operational efficiencies support sustainability goals. It's rare to find a single solution addressing so many challenges simultaneously.

Making the Change

For hospitals evaluating hydration solutions, the question isn't whether to upgrade to dispensed ice – it's which configuration best suits their needs. The Symphony 12 Series suits high-volume units. The 7 Series works perfectly for satellite stations. The 15 Series bridges the gap with extra storage capacity.

Our team at Coast Distributors has helped configure systems for hospitals ranging from major metropolitan teaching facilities to regional healthcare centres. We understand the unique demands of healthcare environments and the critical importance of reliable hydration systems.

Ready to revolutionise patient hydration in your facility?

Contact Coast Distributors to discuss which Follett dispenser configuration suits your hospital's needs:

• View the Symphony 12 Series specifications
• View the 7 Series specifications
• Explore our complete range of 7 & 15 Series ice and water dispensers
• Speak with our expert team by filling out our contact form 
• Need a service for your machine: fill out our service request form
• Need water filters or spare parts? Browse our parts inventory

Don't let outdated ice systems compromise patient hydration or infection control. Join the growing number of Australian hospitals already benefiting from Follett's dispensed Chewblet ice technology.

Coast Distributors is Australia's exclusive Follett distributor, providing healthcare-grade ice solutions nationwide. With 24-hour service support and extensive healthcare experience, we ensure your hydration systems support optimal patient care. Visit coastdistributors.com.au to learn more.