This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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NHS boards told to clean up their act
06/03/2006
Scotland's Chief Medical Officer today spelled out immediate improvements NHS Boards must make after potential shortcomings were confirmed in the disinfection of crucial medical instruments.
Following an initial appraisal of standards, Dr Harry Burns recently wrote to Health Boards demanding a review of systems for cleaning endoscopes (flexible instruments used for internal examinations).
Today the full results of a Scotland-wide survey are published.
Dr Burns said:
"Scotland has taken a lead in tackling the issue of decontamination of endoscopes in this proactive manner. My predecessor commissioned this audit following UK-wide alerts in 2004.
"When it became clear there were possible shortcomings at some sites, I wrote to NHS Boards to reinforce advice on best practice. Since then I've also overseen the formation of an expert working group to advise on how to raise standards.
"Following initial recommendations from the Group, I've now issued a more detailed letter to colleagues in NHS Boards. These issues may be relevant in other parts of the UK, and therefore we have also informed the other UK health departments of our findings and proposed actions.
"I would like to reassure patients that the risk of infection to patients undergoing endoscopy is extremely low. However, when it comes to decontamination practice, only the highest possible standards will be tolerated, and I have asked Boards to act quickly to rectify any failings.
"I will be following up with NHS Boards to ensure that appropriate actions have been taken."
The review of decontamination was commissioned following a decontamination failure incident in Northern Ireland in 2004. At that time, hazard warning notices were issued in all four UK administrations.
The review forms part of a wider strategy to upgrade medical devices decontamination facilities and practice across Scotland. The expert group which advises the Executive on this is the Sterile Services Provision Review Group (the 'Glennie Group').
The Endoscope Decontamination Working Group is a sub-group of the Glennie Group. It first met on 24 January to identify short, medium and long term initiatives.
The Executive has invested over £20 million in upgrading central sterilisation units for surgical instruments since 2001.