IDSc Preview 2025
and best practices. The updated guidance outlines the distinct
roles and responsibilities of all key stakeholders involved in the loan set process: l Suppliers and Manufacturers are responsible for providing complete, accurate documentation with each loan set, ensuring instruments are in serviceable condition, properly decontaminated, and compliant with current regulations.
l Theatre Departments must coordinate closely with both Suppliers and Decontamination Units to ensure loan sets are booked, received, and returned in line with surgical schedules, while also maintaining traceability and patient safety standards.
l Decontamination Units (Sterile Services Departments) are charged with verifying the condition and cleanliness of instruments, ensuring correct processing before and after use, and reporting any defects or discrepancies.
By clearly defining these responsibilities, the updated document helps avoid duplication, eliminate gaps, and promote a consistent approach across the UK’s healthcare system. “The guidance also makes it clear that it is the theatre team’s responsibility to ensure the tracking and traceability of all surgical implants. In the past, this has been an area of dispute, so this makes it much clearer and avoids uncertainty,” Trevor Garcia explained. Ultimately, the goal of the guidance is to ensure
that all reusable medical devices are in the right place, at the right time, and in the right condition for safe use on the right patient. Improved communication and collaboration between all involved parties will help reduce delays, minimise
risk, and optimise surgical efficiency, ultimately benefitting both patients and staff. This collaborative work reflects both
organisations’ ongoing commitment to improving perioperative and decontamination practices across the UK. By promoting clarity, shared responsibility, and high standards, the updated loan set guidance is a significant step forward in supporting safe and effective surgical care.
Big announcements Another significant development in 2025 has been the announcement that the IDSc is joining the Academy for Healthcare Science Professional Bodies Council as a member – increasing the organisation’s influence across the healthcare sciences. The Council
is established as the senior council to provide a high-level strategic discussion forum on healthcare policy, scientific leadership and horizon-scanning of issues that may affect the whole of the Healthcare Science workforce. “This is an important achievement that we
have been striving to secure since 2015. The Professional Bodies Council is the overarching Council for healthcare science, and we have not been represented on it before. This move enforces the recognition of the decontamination sector as being within the healthcare sciences group – this is important because it will ensure decontamination professionals have a voice and are given the professional standing and recognition that they deserve,” Trevor Garcia commented.
Sharing best practices IDSc has also been sharing best practices with its members via a number of bulletins. This has included working with the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM) on highlighting best practice around changes of chemistry. The IDSc has also been engaging with the Department of Health and Social Care on the Design for Life project (
https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/design-for-life- roadmap). The Design for Life programme is an initiative of the medical technologies and innovation directorate in DHSC dedicated to delivery of a circular approach to MedTech. Circularity in MedTech means designing,
procuring and processing medical products in a way that enables them to be reused, remanufactured or recycled, preserving their value for as long as possible. The benefits of
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I November 2025
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