Health Facilities Scotland - A division of NHS Services Scotland
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Decontamination Services

Decontamination Services lead the Scottish National Decontamination agenda with respect to:

  • the decontamination of reusable invasive and semi-invasive medical devices. This practice may take place in Central Decontamination Units (CDU), Endoscope Decontamination Units (EDU) and Local Decontamination Units (LDU).
  • the management of single use and reusable invasive and semi-invasive medical devices.

Standard Setting

We deliver technical requirements, guidance and documentation systems for all NHS Boards and decontamination facilities in Scotland, at the request of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates (SGHSC) or through customer engagement. These technical documents are at the core of all the other activities undertaken and are vital for patient safety outcomes and to ensure high quality medical devices are fit for purpose.

Engagement with and Support to Stakeholders

  • Coordination and operation of the Decontamination Stakeholder Network, comprising of the Decontamination Central Support Group, Sterile Services Department Consultative Group, Endoscope Decontamination Working Group and the Primary Care Decontamination Working Group.
  • Provision of an enquiry system offering stakeholders an interface to resolve problems and produce evidence based responses regarding decontamination and management of medical devices.
  • Engagement with Scottish and Four Nation stakeholder groups/committee with a decontamination remit.
  • Investigation of incidents related to decontamination and medical devices in collaboration with IRIC (Incident Reporting and Investigation Centre) and Health Protection Scotland.
  • Provision of Authorising Engineer (Decontamination) services through three registered AE(D)s.
  • The development of new build and upgrade of existing facilities and equipment within CDU, EDU, LDU, laboratories and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.
  • Support and collaboration between Universities and research groups to carry out research on decontamination and instruments.
  • Research and improvement initiatives

Training

Decontamination training is delivered as part of the HFS Education and Training Programme. The 2012/13 programme comprises large scale seminars for endoscopy and podiatry to workshops covering quality assurance of new medical devices and ISO 9001 Internal Auditing. Three day workshops on endoscope washer disinfector quarterly testing have also been scheduled across Scotland. Cleanroom training is also arranged on request.

For further information, please see the Education and Training page.

Audit and Monitoring Services

HFS provide audit and monitoring services intended to determine whether decontamination facilities are fit for purpose. This includes:

  • Monitoring of CDU MHRA accreditation for the Scottish Government
  • Auditing of decontamination facilities
  • Other auditing as requested by the SGHSC or stakeholders to customer specified requirements

For further information and enquiries, please contact us via email or on 0141 207 1857.

Projects and Research

Projects and commissioned research are also undertaken by the team in areas which are directly relevant to the field of medical device decontamination.

Validation and Associated Project Services

Validation Services provide a range of essential services regarding equipment and processes that NHS Scotland uses to disinfect and sterilize. Find out more about Validation Services.

Guidance

HFS have published a number of guidance documents covering various aspects of decontamation.

Education and Training

Education and training for those involved in decontamination processes is key for both staff and patient safety. You can find further information on decontamination training provided by HFS here.

FAQs and Help

For further information or guidance on Decontamination please contact the team via nss.hfsdeconteam@nhs.net, on 0141 207 1857 or review the FAQs.

Local Decontamination Unit (LDU) Support Service

A new initiative has been launched within HFS to provide expert help and advice to anyone within Dentistry setting up their LDU and purchasing new decontamination equipment.

This service is available throughout Scotland. For further information, please contact our LDU Advisors or call 0141 207 1875.

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Health Facilities Scotland

Glasgow: 3rd Floor, Meridian Court, Cadogan Street, Glasgow G2 6QE

Edinburgh: Gyle Square, 1 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9EB

Telephone: 0141 207 1600 Fax: 0141 221 5122 Email: nss.hfsenquiries@nhs.net