ENDOSCOPY
prevention is already key, as with endoscopy, embracing new technologies and ways of working is one possible measure to help aid recovery, where private suppliers could aid the health service by increasing capacity and handling demand.
Collaboration and education With customer questions almost entirely focussed on COVID-19 and how this will impact infection control measures, it is vital that clinical partners are well informed about the latest developments and resources available to them.
Cantel has been quick to adapt to new ways of working and ensuring that clinical partners are well equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge to keeping procedures in line with new hygiene guidance. This has included offering virtual education sessions with clinical partners, tailored to departments, to provide remote refresher training on product operation. These sessions have typically covered Infection Prevention Assessments (IPA), as prevention is going to be key to slowing the spread of COVID-19. As most workplaces have discovered, the switch to remote training was surprisingly smooth and, as such, virtual training sessions will continue going forward in conjunction with face-to- face, where possible.
Changing guidance As guidance evolves during the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health service must work with agility and adaptability. Current guidance issued by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) recommends five urgent changes to effectively recommence GI endoscopies during this period.
These changes include: the restoration of staff and endoscopy rooms, securing supplies of personal protective equipment, pre- screening patients for COVID-19 infection, the need for COVID-19 minimised facilities, and extra time and space for procedures, for increased infection control and for cleaning. This is where private suppliers can really add value. With growing waiting lists, and many hospitals running at reduced capacity,
OCTOBER 2020
private providers can prove fundamental in helping the NHS adhere to changing infection control measures, increasing PPE supplies or adapting departments to account for social distancing measures. BSG’s guidance maps out the process for managing COVID-19 infection risks among endoscopy patients. By strictly adhering to this guidance, and by being receptive to private sector innovation, the health service can begin to catch up on its waiting list for endoscopic and other elective procedures, ensuring patients and staff are kept safe from infection risks. Patient and staff safety are key priorities. By
ensuring that all involved feel safe, procedures will run more smoothly, and patients can receive the best possible care in all scenarios. The implementation of increased hygiene protocols will be vital in creating safe environments, and ensuring that care is not compromised. This includes the provision of appropriate personal protective equipment in all hospital settings. Official advice from Public Health England lists hand hygiene, social distancing, frequent surface decontamination and ventilation as key to ensuring both NHS and private hospitals are COVID-19 secure. Through the implementation of effective infection control, hospital environments can be made safer for all staff and patients.
NICE research, carried out prior to the pandemic, showed that healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) cost the NHS approximately £1 billion each year, and of these, more HCAIs and outbreaks have been linked to contaminated endoscopes than any other device. Our Complete Circle of Protection, for example, is another resource that can provide a valuable starting point for eliminating infection risks and streamlining efficiencies. Reviewing procedural, manual cleaning, reprocessing and drying and storage processes, can help to identify possible infection risks and gaps to achieve a high standard of infection prevention. Innovation in endoscopy technology,
such as the development of new single-use products, ensures that infection control is at the heart of each and every procedure. By welcoming these technologies into everyday practice in the NHS, the safety of endoscopies is increased, and delivery of procedures can be made more efficient. Keeping up with evolving guidance and prioritising patient and staff safety will be incredibly important for effective recovery from the burdens placed on the elective care system as a result of COVID-19. By bringing education to our clinical partners, now working in hospital settings that might differ vastly from pre-pandemic ways of working, we can help to increase capacity for, and support the quality of, elective procedures as these services begin to safely resume. CSJ
About the author
Brian King is the EMEA sales training manager at Cantel UK. With over two decades experience as a registered general nurse, Brian uses his wealth of clinical experience to ensure the Cantel team are educated in the infection prevention pressures facing Health Boards, Trusts and private healthcare services.
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These photos were taken prior to the pandemic.
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