Trust staff will be the first in the UK to trial a new, eco-friendly car washing system invented by a local GP.
Dr Oji Obiora, a GP with Hartlepool and Stockton Health who works shifts at our urgent care departments, is the brains behind TimeWash, a steam-cleaning valet service.
I’ve had my car cleaned by TimeWash and I can tell you it’s fantastic!
Jonathan Rowley, Innovation projects officer at NTH Solutions
Initially only available to Trust staff, TimeWash uses an app to book and pay for a car valet at a time that suits the customer while they are at work. The TimeWash team will locate the car in the staff car park and use a special steam-clean system which uses less water and fewer chemicals than a traditional car wash power washer.
It is hoped that TimeWash will be expanded throughout the country.
Dr Oji Obiora said: “TimeWash is designed to be simple to use for the customer – just open the app, book a time and you’re done. Your car will be gleaming when you pick it up.
“We’re fully insured of course and we’ll treat our customers’ cars like our own.”
TimeWash: A revolutionary eco-friendly approach to car washing
Dr Obiora Oji, GP and chief executive of TimeWash: Hi, I’m Obiora Oji. I’m an urgent care GP and founder of Clean Pay Limited.
[Video shows a man cleaning a car. He sprays it with steam and then cleans it with a cloth.]
The Clean Pay app’s TimeWash provides on-site, on-demand, eco-friendly, twenty-four hours, seven days a week car washing solutions across NHS car parks and we are extremely delighted to be partnering with North Tees Hospital to offer hospital staff this hugely rewarding car washing experience.
Title card: TimeWash uses high-pressure steam to clean the vehicle – no harsh chemicals are used.
Steam also uses much less water than a pressure washer.
Customers book their car wash via a new app, drop their keys off in a secured facility and the TimeWash team do the rest!
Dr Obiora Oji: All you have to do is to download the app, book a time that is most convenient for you, have your car parked within hospital premises and our staff will ensure that you come back to an extremely clean, much safer, and of course eco-friendly washed car.
Title card: TimeWash’s future is as shiny as a steam washed car!
The Trust as our subsidiary company NTH Solutions has supported TimeWash through our Innovation pathway which sees ideas by staff members with commercial potential assessed and brought to the market. The Trust and NTH Solutions carry out the product analysis, due diligence and market testing of the innovative idea before launch, with profits shared with the inventor.
Other inventions which have come through from the Innovation process include a kit bag for community staff, phlebotomy trolley and a birthing stool.
“We knew this was a winner”
Jonathan Rowley, Innovation projects officer, commented: “As soon as Oji came to us, we knew this was a winner. We saw great potential in a sustainable car valet solution offering services to staff while on shift at the hospital. It’s one of those ideas you wish you had yourself – an app to book a car wash at work!
“But really the true innovation is the steam cleaning device which is safe and uses hardly any chemicals. I think this is going to be a real success and we’ll soon see TimeWash all over the country.”
TimeWash also offers a traditional interior valeting service. It requires the customer to leave their car in a designated parking area using a safe key-drop box.
Dr Obiora’s TimeWash will be available to Trust staff from March, initially at the University Hospital of North Tees. The University Hospital of Hartlepool will follow based on successful trial period.