DECONTAMINATION SERVICES
Administrations. This experience was invaluable for me, as I gained a lot of knowledge across the service, having conversations about the formation of the guidance. This experience is still within the DTP for AE(D)s working in those sectors and holding those responsibilities. This experience and knowledge pool is quite deep and wide across all fields of decontamination.
The solution is there
I am quite sure that any question related to the sterilisation and decontamination fields would find an answer among members of that group – whether it be related to machines, sterilisers, washer- disinfectors, low temperature sterilisation, endoscopy, audits, design, steam, water, guidance, or standards. If I have left anything out, I am sure that the answer is there somewhere.
I must reiterate that, because the work and our group have such wide criteria, and individual knowledge and experience bases, it is imperative that our educational work in achieving a pass on the framework is required.
From steam inlet valves to a porous load steriliser
In my case I really enjoyed resolving issues around steam distribution systems, steam testing, and wet load problems. I had an excellent education in the Merchant Navy, where we always had to find solutions to problems quickly, safely, and correctly. This required a particularly good understanding of systems, as well as theory in thermodynamics. I resolved many wet load issues by applying that experience and knowledge, and very
Graham Stanton
I retired from the health service in Wales after 42 years’ service, having joined the NHS in 1974. I worked in the sterilising and decontamination arena for the last 33 years, from December 1981 up until my retirement. During that time, I represented the Welsh Health Service in the formation of national guidance, both for Wales and the Department of Health in England.
I also worked with the Welsh Government, and was instrumental in setting up and chairing active decontamination groups in both Sterile Services and Endoscopy.
I have been an Authorised Person (Sterilisers) since 1995, with my role changing, in July 2008, to Authorising Engineer (Decontamination). I am still invited to the All Wales Decontamination committee as an IHEEM advisor. I currently chair the IHEEM AE(D) Registration Board, having retired as chair of the IHEEM Decontamination Technology Platform (DTP). I also represent IHEEM on the Professional Bodies Group (DPECF) and the Institute’s Wales branch. I have recently been accepted onto the Central Sterilising Club committee.
20 Health Estate Journal April 2021
Steam supply to header and condense recovery.
often it was little to do with so-called ‘wet steam’. Many issues of that nature were around wrapping, packing, and loading methods, or steam distribution within the chamber itself. Sometimes it could be the materials and design of the loading carriages that caused the problems – complex to tackle at times, but solvable with good teamwork and time. This is a full topic by itself, but I hope I am demonstrating here that my own experiences came to the fore in resolving many of these issues. I know that other
AE(D)s have other life experiences that have already, and no doubt will in the future, help users.
Sometimes I have had to ask users to have faith in my theory to resolve their problems; many times it worked, and indeed then I was more relieved than they were, but sometimes it failed, but I always kept going until the problem was resolved. The answer to these problems lies in trust in each other, and good teamwork within the hospital or other healthcare facility. Sometimes it takes a long time for a manager to gain trust in you; this trust can quicky be jeopardised if actions are not carried out correctly, or procedures not followed. Good all- round communication is essential. All the systems, working methods, and procedures, discussed in this paper are for the benefit and the safety of the patient. Very often it was necessary to remind others that that was why we were carrying out certain works or investigations. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of exceptionally good communication and teamwork; this is essential to being a good AE(D) or service manager in the field.
In my career, I have had the privilege of working with some great engineers in my team, as well as with sterile services managers, infection prevention officers, microbiologists, and engineers from both estates departments, and from within manufacturers, without whom I could not have achieved the outcomes required. We must all look to constantly improve, and, for the safety of the patients, look back as well as forward. Remember, however, to always work together.
hej
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