IDSc preview
IDSc 2024 highlights major changes ahead
The biggest changes in decades, affecting the decontamination sector, will be revealed and explored at this year’s IDSc annual conference – from the latest plans for registration to a new competency framework. IDSc Chair, Trevor Garcia explains why attending this year’s event is so important.
The IDSc has a vital role in driving forward the professionalism of decontamination science. One of its key goals is to raise the profile of the profession, so that patients understand how vital the decontamination role is for ensuring patient safety. At the same time, it is also raising the profile of the profession within healthcare organisations. Historically, the profession has not received the recognition it deserves or been given the same standing as pathology, radiology, pharmacy and other healthcare sciences, for example. It is time that we changed this.
Advancing competency in decontamination One of the ways we are seeking to raise the profile and standing of the profession is through access to high quality education. It is vital to ensuring high standards and in achieving recognition of the profession as a rigorous scientific discipline. To support this, IDSc have invested in study days throughout the year, held at a variety of locations across the UK. A new programme is being drawn up for 2025 and details of these can be found at https://www.
idsc.co.uk/news-and-events/ These study days are in addition to the main annual conference, which takes place on 26th-27th November 2024, at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel. For all those working in the field of decontamination, this educational conference and exhibition is a must-attend event – providing an opportunity to: network and exchange knowledge with colleagues; to discover the latest innovations advancing best practice; to learn about the latest guidance; and to find solutions to ongoing challenges. This year, there is even more reason to attend, as the sector faces some major changes ahead. In 2024, we have witnessed some major
developments in the field of decontamination, prompted by a safety investigation by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) into contaminated instruments in surgery. The
HSSIB’s report in 2022 highlighted the need to raise the standing of decontamination science within Trusts to ensure the safety of patients; to give decontamination professionals a voice, so they can raise safety concerns at board level; and identified the need for a competency and training framework to ensure high standards within the sector. Following the HSSIB’s investigation, IDSc
was tasked with the crucial role of helping to develop the new ‘NHS Estates Technical Bulletin (NETB/2024/1) version 2.0: competency framework for staff working in sterile services and decontamination departments’. The newly published Technical Bulletin sets
out to: 1. Outline the qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviours required by staff working in decontamination units to ensure the highest standards of decontamination are achieved.
2. To give general recommendations for improving board-level commitment and oversight of decontamination quality.
These latest developments will be explored
by top experts from IDSc, many of whom have had a central role in the development of key guidelines and documents (including the new Technical Bulletin) – making this year’s conference one that all those working in the sector cannot afford to miss. Attending IDSc 2024 will enable all those working in the field of decontamination to understand exactly how these changes will affect them.
Competency The HSSIB investigation found several areas of concern in decontamination practices, including a lack of standardised training and competency frameworks for sterile services staff across facilities. The key problem identified was inconsistent and variable training standards for decontamination staff. This creates risks that some staff may not have the requisite skills, knowledge and competence to ensure instruments are correctly decontaminated, which includes cleaning and sterilisation. Improper decontamination heightens infection
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