Glowing report forsterile hospital toolunit

A unit which sterilises around 2.8 million hospital instruments a year for use across NHS Forth Valley has received a glowing report following an unannounced inspection.

The Area Sterilisation Disinfection Unit (ASDU), based at Falkirk Community Hospital, received a clean bill of health following a recent visit from Lloyds’s Register Quality Assurance. The visit was only the second of its kind in Scotland and the first by independent assessors Lloyds.

During the visit the assessors visited the clean room and sterilisation areas where instruments are sterilised. Their report concluded the unit maintains good control of the inspection, packing and sterilisation processes. They also noted that record keeping was of a high standard and the clean room assembly and packing area was orderly, clean with all materials clearly identified.

ASDU manager Lynsay Gracie said:“This report highlights our ongoing commitment to provide patients with safe, sterile and fit-for-purpose medical devices used in theatres and clinics throughout the board area. I would like to thank all staff involved for helping to ensure the unit maintains consistently high standards.”

It was also the first unit in Scotland to become accredited to BSEN ISO 13485 – a quality management standard particularly for reusable medical devices.