Concerns for future of Sterile Unit at LVH

CONCERNS are mounting over the future of the Sterile Services Unit based at Lagan Valley.

Staff say they fear the unit has been earmarked for closure in March 2011 and all staff will be relocated to the Ulster Hospital.

The Sterile Unit is deemed to be crucial to the successful running of the hospital cleaning and supplying the equipment needed for operating theatres at two hospitals, Downe and Lagan Valley.

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Just four years ago 500,000 was invested in refurbishing the unit, computerising the operation and installing sophisticated washing machinery and autoclave which sterilise the instruments.

The unit also supplies medical and nursing staff in 40 other facilities.

Currently there are nine staff who could be affected and who are now calling on the Health Minister to get involved to save the unit.

One member of staff, who did not wish to be named, said she was concerned the unit will be relocated, to what has been described as a 'new super complex' in the Ulster Hospital.

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"Our unit has been operating within Lagan Valley for many years and in 2006 the Trust invested over a half a million pounds to bring it up to accredited high operating standards which enables us to provide a service to Theatres and Wards across the South Eastern Trust and also to private units operating within the Trust area.

"We cannot understand why our unit is to close when the service we provide is second to none - we have very few complaints and also generate an income. By moving the staff to the Ulster Hospital it will cost the Trust money as they will have to pay staff expenses for relocation and travel. The move will also cause the staff extra travelling time and shift work.

"The Lagan Valley Sterile Service Unit has a four hour turn around time on processing and the unit at the Downe Hospital has a 24 hour turn around time. If this service goes to the new unit at the Ulster Hospital the service will be greatly impacted with an increased time on the return of equipment.

"The fact is the Sterile Services unit at Lagan Valley is best placed to provide not only a cost effective, yet high standard of service, but it is also very important in getting sterile equipment to hospitals and clinics within the South Eastern Trust area that urgently require them for patient care, which the new unit would not be capable of doing due to the increased distances this equipment would need to travel.

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"In 2006 we had 12 staff and produced 34,000 sterile packs per year, since then our staff has been reduced to eight yet on average we are producing an increased number of 35,000/36,000 sterile packs per year. The other major part of our service is working on numerous contracts which brings in revenue from an outside source, greatly contributing towards our running costs."

A spokesperson for the Trust said: "Production facilities for the Trust will be provided from the new CSSD opened on November 10 (this month) on the Ulster Hospital site.

"This unit provides all the latest technology and automated equipment to provide a reprocessing service to meet the medical devices legislation for reprocessing complex surgical instruments. Two staff from Lagan Valley have already moved to the new unit.

"Specialist decontamination services will remain on the Lagan Valley site. A new Endoscopy Reprocessing Unit was opened last year which will retain four of the existing seven staff on the Lagan Valley site.

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"Negotiation and consultation is on-going over the last four months. All existing staff have been offered posts in the new department and some staff have already taken this offer and have moved to the new CSSD.

"There will be no reduction in staff required for decontamination services within the trust. The reverse is true as we are currently recruiting new additional posts.