Decontamination
of surgical instruments
In January
2001, the Minister of Health announced that the Government would invest
£200 million in improving decontamination in the NHS in England.
It was agreed that the NHS needed state-of-the-art decontamination
“locked in” as part of its culture and this is what was
set out in the national strategy, launched in June 2003.
The key
elements of the Strategy are:
•
adoption of appropriate European standards
• an inspection regime
• a mixed economy
• a level playing field between NHS and commercially provided
services
• new-style partnerships between the NHS and commercial service
providers
A Code
of Practice on the Control and Prevention of Healthcare Associated
Infection came into effect on 1st October 2006 and this will form
the basis of the Healthcare Commission’s Health Check from 1st
April 2007. Among other things, the Code requires NHS organisations
(including those providing primary and tertiary care, as well as those
providing secondary care) to comply with the appropriate standards
for the decontamination of reusable medical devices, which includes
surgical instruments.
Practice
action – unless you are already exclusively using single-use
instruments and/or a fully accredited and CE marked Sterile Services
Department (NHS or private Sector) for reusable instruments, you need
to review your instrument usage strategy.
Click
here to read a paper
written by the Surrey and Sussex Decontamination Manager which sets
out actions which Practices should be taking. Link
won't open?
If you
have any questions about the Decontamination Programme you should
take these up with your Primary Care Organisation.
Information about providers of disposable instruments
