Following the launch of the market’s first mobile endoscopy decontamination unit late last year, the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is the first Trust in the UK to bring the system to its hospital estate.
Partnering with mobile medical unit provider, EMS Healthcare, Quest+ Decontamination has been introduced at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield to support endoscope reprocessing services while vital department refurbishment work takes place. The new unit is designed to ensure the hospital can continue services without disruption to the department or its patients, removing the need to use external decontamination services.
Minimising the footprint required on site, the single trailer system incorporates four washer disinfectors, a double endoscopy medical grade sink, its own RO plant, separate areas for processed and unprocessed scopes, a track and trace system, and one-way flow for scopes.
Angela Fairbank, Hospital Sterilisation and Decontamination Department (HSDU) manager at Pinderfields Hospital, said: “As a Trust that promotes the use of research and innovation to solve healthcare challenges, we are extremely proud to be at the forefront of this new solution. Without the unit, we were facing a period of sustained disruption to services and patients. EMS Healthcare came to us with a solution that could not only prevent this from happening, but could create significant efficiencies for the department.”
Keith Austin, CEO at EMS Healthcare, added: “The onsite launch at Pinderfields Hospital is the culmination of a considered and collaborative development process for Quest+ Decontamination. We have worked closely with healthcare providers to create a solution that responds directly to the reprocessing challenges hospitals are facing, solving a major gap in the endoscopy market.
“We have to thank the team at Mid Yorkshire for their willingness to embrace innovation with the introduction of this unit. We hope they will be the first of many.”
The launch at Pinderfields Hospital also marks the start of EMS Healthcare’s official partnership with reprocessing equipment provider, Cantel (UK) and RO plant provider, Veolia Water Technologies. The partnership means the Quest+ Decontamination unit can now offer healthcare providers a one-stop solution for their endoscopy reprocessing needs.
Keith added: “Cantel and Veolia stand with us in our efforts to aid hospitals in the delivery of uncompromised care – providing a turnkey solution is a major part of this so it is with great pleasure we welcome them on board.”
Neil Blewitt, managing director at Cantel, said: “Collaboration is the cornerstone of our equipment provision, and we’re proud to partner on a solution that will help to solve pressing equipment and capacity challenges.”
Lorraine Gledhill, business development manager at Veolia Water Technologies UK added: “We’re excited to be part of this first of its kind solution for the endoscopy market. It’s the perfect solution that supplements any Endoscopy department during their hospital refurbishment phases – we’re looking forward to seeing more trusts embrace the offering around the UK.”
