Ice Packs vs Ice Machines

Hi All,

I'm looking into Ice Packs and do we still have a requirement for them in hospitals and clinics.
A lot of colleagues are switching to Ice-making machines to reduce costs, waste and be more flexible in treatments. (Not to mention cooling their drinks in the summer)
Some hospitals are refusing to go down the ice making route thanks to IPC (Infection prevention control) leads objecting.

Just wondered what the views out there were.
Also if you do use ice-packs are there any requirements regards sizing or length of time they need to stay cold.

Here at a major hospital in Canada, we put ice from a machine into a plastic bag and throw it away when done. Infection control has no problem with it. In fact, I think a reusable ice pack is more likely to spread infection.