Firms' errors 'hitting NHS surgery'

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The Government has encouraged NHS trusts to use private companies for sterilising operating theatre tools but surgeons are finding an array of problems, it said.

A survey of more than 250 surgeons carried out by the college found two-thirds were unhappy with the availability and condition of instruments sent for sterilisation away from hospital.

The survey showed that 70% of paediatric surgeons using off-site firms were unhappy with the availability of equipment. The same was true for 82% of neurosurgeons, 79% of ear, nose and throat surgeons and 60% of plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Almost a third (32%) of plastic surgeons were unhappy with the level of sterility, as were 30% of ear, nose and throat surgeons, 28% of neurosurgeons and 28% of paediatric surgeons.

However, the survey also revealed that surgeons who used in-house decontamination services were unhappy with some aspects of care of equipment.

The college warned that although private firms were largely succeeding in their main aim of sterilising kit, too much was coming back late or going missing. Sensitive, expensive tools are also being broken, it said.

"Without the equipment to do the job, surgeons are forced to cancel or abandon operations - sometimes when patients are already anaesthetised and prepared," it said.

Unison senior national officer Mike Jackson said: "Unison has warned time and time again that taking sterilisation services out of hospitals and replacing them with supercentres - which are often miles away - is a recipe for disaster."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "We are helping PCTs to draw up local action plans where necessary and we are working closely with both them and the private sector provider to resolve any issues."