Wednesday 13 March 2013

Surgery equipment delays - members working round clock to keep up their end of the system

13 March 2013

From The Herald - report by Helen McArdle

PATIENTS whose operations were delayed after surgeons raised fears about dirty and damaged surgical tools could be waiting weeks before their procedures go ahead.

 
The Herald revealed yesterday that patients due to undergo treatment including hip and knee replacements at the orthopaedics unit in Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow last month had operations postponed.

The delay came after concerns were raised over the safety of surgical tools coming from the health board's centralised decontamination facility.
....

Matt McLaughlin, the regional organiser for Unison, which represents health workers in Glasgow, said staff at the unit were struggling with a "pressure cooker" environment.

Mr McLaughlin said: "It's a high-pressure environment made worse by the pressure on NHSGGC to get operations done quickly.

"Some of the equipment is in constant use and the pressure to turn around the equipment at very short notice is incredible.

"The vast majority of kit is provided free from contaminants and our members are working round the clock to keep up their end of the system."

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Full report at The Herald here

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