The Central Sterilising Club (CSC) will consider risk at its Annual Scientific Conference. This year’s Kelsey Lecturer is Professor Didier Pittet. As WHO’s global ambassador for “Clean Care is Safe Care,” he led on the adoption of alcohol-based hand hygiene across the world. But how safe is safe care when applied to decontamination practice?
The risk of fracture of multiply reprocessed screws and plates was addressed by Scotland years ago. They adopted universal sterile single plates and screws. Other UK countries have found adoption much more challenging. How aware are Trusts and boards with the risks they carry? John Prendergast will discuss the Welsh approach to managing these risks.
This year, CSC is excited to take a risk by abandoning the traditional corporate presentations and unveiling The Pioneers Podium. Four companies will have eight minutes to showcase the innovations they believe could transform healthcare. Inspired by the Dragons’ Den, a panel of experts will challenge, probe, and explore each idea, while delegates cast their votes on where they would place their investment.
Jim Tinsdeall will review the evolution of phaco handpieces, while Tracey Gauci will present the risks of making misinformed choices in this new world of sustainability, which will allow Michelle Sulivan to explore an evolution of understanding and the journey technology companies are making within environmental sustainability.
Helen Griffiths will tell the tale of The Elves and the Shoemaker by suggesting that there is no magic with endoscope decontamination; Ronald Wassenburg also addresses endoscopes when he describes the challenges associated with complex devices. Ultrasound probes have no channels; Ursula May ponders whether these are the final frontier of risk for decontamination. Mett Smart will explore how UV‑C disinfection can be a validated, reliable method for decontamination, assessing both its efficacy and its suitability within regulated healthcare environments. Might this be the answer to Ursula’s questions?
Sulisti Holmes however is taking us back to consider what is the optimal approach to cleaning in, “The Great Scrub Off.” There is plenty for decontamination leaders to consider, and Rob Warburton will unpack the risks and challenges facing those at the forefront of Decontamination. Technical pressures aside, it’s easy to become anxious about the well-being of the teams we rely on. Mat Moyo therefore turns our attention to psychological safety in healthcare. He explores how embracing imperfection – rather than fearing it – can strengthen trust, resilience, and create teams that thrive.
Finally, the CSC would be incomplete without the annual debate: “This house believes the UK should follow International Standards, rather than HTM’s.” Speaking for the proposal will be Brigadier Bancroft, while against we have Captain Kirk.
For more information visit: https://centralsterilisingclub.org/
