Major changes are ahead for the decontamination sector – with a new National Decontamination Strategy for the UK and move to circularity under the Design for Life programme, which will mean extra demand being placed on reprocessing services. It has been a big year for IDSc and this year’s congress will provide some vital insights into the changes.
From its initial inception in 1967, the Institute of Decontamination Science (IDSc) has actively developed and grown in strength and is the only UK professional body for decontamination to be recognised by the Professional Bodies Council. It plays a fundamental role in achieving effective patient outcomes and reducing the risks of healthcare-associated infection.
The IDSc continues to embrace the challenges that arise within the decontamination sector. It has actively engaged with, and helped to lead, the major review of traditional standards and practice in all areas of decontamination that occurred in response to the emergence of CJD and the complexities of prion removal, and encourages future growth, improvement and advances within this rapidly evolving field.
Since the findings of the original HSSIB investigation into failures in decontamination, the IDSc was commissioned by NHSE to produce a Technical Bulletin identifying decontamination staff competencies and qualifications for all staff roles. This has given for the first time a career structure and a reference document for managers and organisations to use as a framework for the requirements of qualifications, pay banding and registration. This year also included the launch of the IDSc Endoscopy Technical Certificate, which has been levelled by SQA at Level 3 (England and Wales) and level 6 (Scotland).
Log in or register FREE to read the rest
This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text.
If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
