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FOI release

FOI – 2023-000444 Decontamination (HTML)

Published on 10 January 2024

**Date received – 29 November 2023 | Date responded – 10 January 2024 **

Request

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002:

Further to the reported problems with NHS Lothian’s Hospital Sterilisation and Decontamination Unit earlier this year, confirmation of whether the strategy for decontamination arrangements across the health service has been reviewed at a national level and the outcome of that review;

  • The number of times in each of the past three years that health boards have had to use neighbouring NHS decontamination facilities and alternative facilities, such as the sterilisation service in Liverpool;
  • The cost of using a private provider (or providers) for decontamination and sterilisation services;
  • The number of operations which have had to be delayed because of capacity challenges or other issues arising with sterilisation units in each of the past three years, broken down by health board;
  • A breakdown of the staff shortages affecting NHS sterilisation units and the action NHS Scotland is taking to address these shortages.

Response

I refer to your freedom of information request that we received on 29 November 2023. I can advise you that we have now completed the search of our records and can provide you with the following information:

Further to the reported problems with NHS Lothian’s Hospital Sterilisation and Decontamination Unit earlier this year, confirmation of whether the strategy for decontamination arrangements across the health service has been reviewed at a national level and the outcome of that review.

The strategy for decontamination arrangements across NHS Scotland are in the process of being reviewed. Central Decontamination Units (CDUs) operated by Health Boards are currently being reviewed through a national Decontamination Collaborative Programme. The Programme aims are:

  • Effective contingency arrangements
  • Increased Resilience
  • Improved Sustainability
  • Expansion in Capacity
  • Workforce Harmonisation
  • Process Harmonisation

The Programme has identified a short, medium and long terms actions. These are currently being developed for further discussion with the Scottish Government.

The number of times in each of the past three years that health boards have had to use neighbouring NHS decontamination facilities and alternative facilities, such as the sterilisation service in Liverpool.

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act, 2002 (FOISA) an organisation does not have to provide the requested information if it does not hold that information. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) does not hold this information. You may wish to contact the individual health boards who may be able to provide you with the requested information, addresses are as follows:

The cost of using a private provider (or providers) for decontamination and sterilisation services.

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act, 2002 (FOISA) an organisation does not have to provide the requested information if it does not hold that information. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) does not hold this information. You may wish to contact the individual health boards at the addresses above who may be able to provide you with the requested information.

The number of operations which have had to be delayed because of capacity challenges or other issues arising with sterilisation units in each of the past three years, broken down by health board.

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act, 2002 (FOISA) an organisation does not have to provide the requested information if it does not hold that information. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) does not hold this information. You may wish to contact the individual health boards at the addresses above who may be able to provide you with the requested information.

A breakdown of the staff shortages affecting NHS sterilisation units and the action NHS Scotland is taking to address these shortages.

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act, 2002 (FOISA) an organisation does not have to provide the requested information if it does not hold that information. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) does not hold this information. You may wish to contact the individual health boards at the addresses above who may be able to provide you with the requested information.

I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of how we have dealt with your request, you can make representations to us asking us to review the handling of your request.

If you require any further information, please contact Head of Information and Cyber Security, Digital and Security within 40 working days of the date of this correspondence.

Contact

Email: nss.foi@nhs.scot

Address

NHS National Services Scotland
Headquarters
Gyle Square
1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB

If after a review you are still unhappy, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via their application form.

National Services Scotland (NSS) is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. You can view all FOI responses within our FOI Publications repository.

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