NHS ops cancelled over unfit equipment
Private sector companies are damaging and delaying hospital equipment, RCS says
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Friday, 25, Apr 2008 11:00
NHS operations are being cancelled as clean equipment is not being provided on time by private cleaning centres, surgeons have warned.
The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) says the out-sourced centres that are being rolled-out across the NHS are damaging and delaying equipment.
Equipment used to be sterilised and cared for on-site but NHS trusts are now being encouraged by the government to use private sector companies.
The RCS says although the centres largely succeed in sterilising equipment, too much is coming back late or going missing and expensive tools are being broken.
A survey of over 250 surgeons carried out by the college found that two-thirds were unhappy about the availability and condition of instruments sent for sterilisation away from the hospital.
Without the right equipment in the proper condition surgeons are forced to cancel or abandon operations.
The RCS claims there have been cases of this happening when patients are already anaesthetised and prepared.
"Patients should be concerned to learn that operations they need are being delayed because vital tools are not available," said Professor Richard Ramsden, who collected the evidence and is an ears, nose and throat surgeon.
"This preliminary study indicates that surgeons working with on-site instrument cleaning facilities are getting a better service, enough to warrant an urgent reassessment of what's best for the NHS."
RCS president Bernard Ribeiro commented: "This is yet another example where something that looks good on paper in Whitehall gets rolled out across the country without adequate professional consultation and proper piloting."
In response a Department of Health spokesperson said: "Hospitals have a legal responsibility to ensure surgical equipment is clean and safe. Failure to do this would be taken very seriously by the government and the independent health watchdog, the Healthcare Commission.
"The hospitals and the company concerned must work together to ensure that all unsuitable instruments are removed from use and that all staff - whether in operating theatres or reprocessing centres - follow best practice guidelines."