Decontamination unit to be refurbished after hundreds of procedures cancelled in Aberdeen

A decontamination unit in Aberdeen is set to be refurbished after an unknown substance was found on sterile surgical tools.

Hundreds of procedures were cancelled after the substance was found on instruments processed through the central decontamination unit (CDU) at Foresterhill on October 3.

NHS Grampian has since confirmed almost 500 elective surgical procedures have been cancelled as a result and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Other health boards have stepped in to help clean equipment, allowing some procedures to go ahead.

On Tuesday, a NHS Grampian spokesperson said efforts to restore the unit, and determine the source of the substance which prompted the shutdown, are ongoing.

June Barnard, the health board’s nurse director, said new machine washers have been ordered and refurbishment works will take place while the site is out of service.

Ms Barnard added the measures will mean situations like this “do not arise in future”.

Staff based at Woodend in the city, as well as from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and NHS Highland, have stepped in to assist, helping to turn around an average of 500-600 crates of instruments needed to keep emergency and urgent care going on a daily basis.

Ms Barnard added: “We are enormously grateful for the support of our colleagues at other boards, which is vital to our recovery from this incident. Teams continue to strictly prioritise emergency and urgent procedures, to ensure we have the equipment we need.”

Portfolio medical director for clinical support services, Rafael Moleron, who is also supporting the recovery effort, said: “I would struggle to think of a team across the local health system who are not affected by the current situation in some way or going the extra mile to help us resolve the situation. We would really like to thank colleagues across the board for their patience, perseverance, commitment and understanding as we work to restore our decontamination capacity.

“The equipment that is needed for procedures changes with what patients present with on any given day so it’s a difficult balance to ensure we always have what we need for everything at the moment.

“This is why we have had some instances where procedures have had to be postponed at the last minute, and this is hugely regrettable. We are sorry to anyone who has been affected in this way, and to staff who have had to deliver this difficult news. We are doing our best to prevent this and safety is our priority.”