Decontamination in the COVID era Decontamination in the COVID era SURVE Y
One respondent commented that “during the second ‘wave’, the department only saw a 25% reduction in throughput compared to 2019 and they managed this despite increased sickness”. We know that some Trusts have asked their decontamination departments to investigate the possibility of reprocessing PPE as a contingency in the event of critical shortages. Around 37.5% reported that their Trust had investigated the possibility. However, the majority (62.5%) said that this was not considered. Reassuringly, the majority (over 80%) felt safe while working during the pandemic, although around a fifth of respondents said that they did not feel confident that their safety was protected at all times. It should be noted that this was a small sample size,
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes No
TOTAL NoNo ANSWER CHOICES
Q2 During shortages of PPE, during the pandemic, did your Trust consider the possibility of using the sterile services department to reprocess PPE and single-use devices as a contingency plan if the situation became critical?
Q5 Have you received any specific training to help meet the challenges of decontaminating equipment during the pandemic?
Answered: 16 Skipped: 0 Answered: 16 Skipped: 0 NoNo
so it is not possible to make generalisations across the NHS based on this data set. However, it does raise some questions on how staff confidence and safety could have been improved.
Answered: 16 Skipped: 0 YesYes
Around 12% reported that shortages of PPE impacted the department, while some also shared that staff had experienced additional stress and mental health concerns during the pandemic.
YesYes
RESPONSES 56.25%
Q5 Have you received any specific training to help meet the challenges of decontaminating equipment during the pandemic?
43.75%
I’m very proud of the decontamination personnel for using their skills and professionalism at all times, and the Trust for their care and support in providing communications updates, at all levels, during these ongoing pressures and changes.
NoNo
Yes No
TOTAL ANSWER CHOICES
Yes No
TOTAL 1 / 1
No Yes
This suggests that there will be further work required to support staff wellbeing and mental health in the coming months. Decontamination departments should not be forgotten as the NHS seeks to roll out mental health initiatives, in the wake of the pandemic.
YesYes
9 7
16
RESPONSES 37.50%
62.50%
Staff said they were looking forward to returning to their decontamination roles, having been re-deployed during the pandemic, but noted that there will be some positive changes that will go forward. Respondents to the survey predicted that: “better communication between departments”, “a stronger sense of teamwork”, and “a focus on employee health and wellbeing” will all continue beyond the pandemic. Ultimately, it is hoped that these positive changes, implemented during the COVID era, will contribute to improve working conditions for decontamination staff in the future.
RESPONSES
37.50% 62.50%
Q2 During shortages of PPE, during the pandemic, did your Trust consid the possibility of using the sterile services department to reprocess PPE and single-use devices as a contingency plan if the situation became critical?
SurveyMonkey SurveyMonkey
6 CSJ
10 16
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