Commenting on news that operations at two hospitals* were suspended, after surgical kits were found to be contaminated with human flesh, Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said:
“To think that these dirty instruments have been minutes from the operating theatre is horrendous. UNISON has long been warning that taking sterilisation services out of hospitals is dangerous and could cost lives.
“There is clear evidence that in house sterilisation services are cleaner, more efficient and more reliable. Transporting equipment across London has obvious potential for contamination, or for damaging delicate instruments. There have been many other cases across the country where patients have had their operations cancelled because the instruments supplied by a private sterilisation company were unusable.”
*Hillingdon Hospital and Mount Vernon Hospital, both in Middlesex.
ENDS