A UK medical technology company is installing an endoscope decontamination unit in a bid to help Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust treat patients while improvement works are underway.
Vanguard Healthcare Solutions recently launched mobile Endoscope Decontamination Units to help hospitals meet increased demand for endoscopy procedures, which is set to rise by an estimated 10% year-on-year across the UK.
Set in mobile clinical units designed and built by Vanguard, the specialist suites are used to clean or “decontaminate” equipment used in endoscopic procedures including gastric, bowel and chest examinations.
The Endoscope Decontamination Unit is HTM compliant, including all aspects relating to fire safety. It has been designed in accordance with JAG guidelines. With separate entrance and exit doors, the workflow of the unit means dirty and clean scopes are always separated. The suites have been designed to enable hospitals to continue endoscopy services when their own in-house decontamination areas are running at full capacity, equipment needs to be replaced or is out of service.
One of the first units is set to be installed at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on 9 - 10 June as part of a planned programme of improvements. The suite will support ongoing endoscopic procedures while the hospital creates a larger and improved permanent facility.
The suite will be on site for nine months. Daily it will be able to decontaminate up to 120 endoscopes used in a range of procedures including colonoscopies and gastric examinations.
Vanguard were awarded the contract to provide the specialist Endoscope Decontamination Unit after being successful in a mini-competition within the North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative framework.
Steve Peak, Vanguard delivery and development director, said: “Hospital facilities are managing heavy workloads and any closures, whether unplanned or as part of a scheduled refurbishment, can have a significant impact on the hospital’s service provision.
“We are delighted that we have been able to support the John Radcliffe Hospital in this way while they improve their existing facilities and develop an improved, larger and permanent unit. We have worked closely with them to ensure the design of the facility meets their needs.”
