Surgery theatre sessions across England are being cancelled because equipment is damaged or delayed by outsourced private decontamination centres, warns the Royal College of Surgeons.

A survey of over 250 surgeons has revealed widespread frustration and concern of the scheme which is being rolled out across the NHS. Two-thirds of respondents said they were unhappy about the availability and condition of instruments sent for sterilisation away from the hospital. 

"This is yet another example where something that looks good on paper in Whitehall gets rolled out across the country without adequate professional consultation and proper piloting," added College President Bernard Ribeiro. "The NHS needs the best decontamination service possible." 

Previously all hospitals sterilised equipment and repaired on-site but NHS Trusts are being encouraged to outsource to private sector companies. The Royal College of Surgeons report that their members find that too much is coming back late or going missing and sensitive, expensive tools are being broken. As a result operations are cancelled or abandoned - occasionally when patients are already anaesthetised and prepared.

"Patients should be concerned to learn that operations they need are being delayed because vital tools are not available," said Professor Richard Ramsden, who collected the evidence and is an ENT surgeon. "This preliminary study indicates that surgeons working with on-site instrument cleaning facilities are getting a better service, enough to warrant an urgent reassessment of what's best for the NHS." 

www.rcseng.ac.uk

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