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STERILE SERVICES


department. Lee Readman, business development manager at Dr Weigert introduced Neil to the dosing technologies and chemistries available from the company. “I liked working with Lee, I liked his attitude,” said Neil. “He told me that the chemistry from Dr Weigert was the best chemistry on the market, which I was a little bit sceptical of at the time as it is what they all say! But I liked the idea of the technology; of the solid surface micro dosing and I could see after reading about Dr Weigert that they were an established company with a lot of experience so I thought it would be worth a trial with them.”


About the system


For the medical market, the neodisher system ALPHA automatic dosing machine is designed to provide users with strong cleaning and decontamination results, while ensuring the best, most efficient use of processing chemicals.


The system can supply up to four washer disinfectors with three process chemicals: two high concentrate detergents (neodisher SystemAct and neodisher SystemClean) and one optional rinse aid (neodisher SystemRinse). The dosing of the process chemicals is ensured via weigomatic storage containers which are said to guarantee a continuous supply to the washer disinfectors without intervention from the machine operator. Dr Weigert’s chemistry provides wetting


properties in conjunction with streak free, short drying times and there is no dissolving necessary – each dose provides a stable concentration of detergent. The chemistry enables gentle reprocessing of medical devices and the highly concentrated liquid conserves resources and prevents waste. Manufactured under ISO conditions, the product chemistry quality is delivered ready to use.


With the optional use of RFID technology, it is possible to exchange the empty canisters in a controlled, safe manner without risk of mix up. Canisters are stowed in the base unit, each one with its own pull out draw. The dosing system can be wall mounted and the distance between the dosing system and washer disinfectors can be up to 20 metres. This is beneficial for sterile services departments which are based in older buildings where dosing and washing machines have to be located into pre-existing facilities. At the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Neil Christie wanted to experiment with a new, quality cleaning solution and after researching Dr Weigert’s portfolio and meeting with Lee, he was keen to try the automatic dosing system. The Royal Victoria Infirmary was able to trial the system with two washer machines in its busy wash room. Neil commented: “With the ALPHA system, we are using micro-dosing. The chemistry arrives ready to use and all the staff here are now saying how well it cleans;


Automated instrument


reprocessing machines Washer-disinfectors or automated instrument reprocessing machines are used to clean and disinfect items intended for re-use. The machines are designed to re-process a host of different products used daily throughout healthcare facilities including, surgical instruments, utensils, glassware, bowls and anaesthetic equipment.


The cleaning and disinfection process is intended to make items safe to be used on patients again and for staff to handle. There are many different considerations when planning the purchase of an automated instrument reprocessing machine including: l What is the intended use of the machine? l What budget is available for the machine?


l What budget is available for detergents and cleaning chemicals to be used within the machine?


l Where will the machine be located within the sterile services department?


l Where will be the detergents and cleaning chemicals be stored within the sterile services department?


l How much space is available? l What ongoing maintenance is required for the machine? Is there any validation that needs to be carried out and if so, what is the interval period?


l What standards and regulations should the detergents and cleaning chemicals comply with? What evidence is required?


l What is the standard of the supply water serving the Sterile Services Department? How can this be tested?


84 I WWW.CLINICALSERVICESJOURNAL.COM


even down to the actual containers within baskets we use. Put simply, it cleans and the instruments look cleaner. “During the trial period, we washed some equipment that we would usually pre-clean. We put the equipment straight into the washers and it came out spotless! This included not only the instruments but the trays that hold the instruments whilst being washed.”


Helping the sterile services team


Neil Christie observed: “Quality is the important factor for me. The wash area is an important part of our department and if you are cleaning instruments, they have to come out clean at the end of the process. If you have a better system and a better cleaning process, it makes it easier for the sterile services team.


“I know that I could buy cheaper chemistry to go through any of the washers we have here, but it probably wouldn’t clean properly - it might even damage the instrumentation. Different companies buy and formulate chemicals and there is so much variation in quality. With Dr Weigert’s product, the impression I have is that the company is very process orientated; they care about the products they are producing, they care about the quality of what they are putting into the market.


“Using the ALPHA system puts my mind at rest, because, at this early stage, it already clearly produces far better results than the other washers we were running”. Neil Christie, operations manager for the


Sterile Services department at The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was keen to identify new and different technologies to maximise efficiencies for reprocessing surgical instruments. Neil said: “I think it’s always good to try new things, some work, some don’t. I just like to opportunity to try. If you don’t experiment with different technologies on the market then you run the risk of never making any improvements in the way you work. “Staff can shy away from new things, if they think they are going to be difficult to use or unreliable. But when we got the ALPHA


NOVEMBER 2018


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