Skip to main content
Guidance

Management of reusable surgical instruments during transportation, storage and after clinical use (GUID 5010)

Published on 01 December 2014

From: Health Facilities Scotland

GUID 5010 Parts A and B: awareness of the fragile nature of the sterile packs/trays and the used instruments/packs/trays and need to handle with care.

Documents

Details

This guidance has been developed based on a stakeholder approved brief that highlighted concerns over management of surgical instruments before and after decontamination and the need for clear guidance.

Part A: the advice note for planning is concerned with the room design requirements for storage of sterile packs/trays in clinical facilities. The advice note for planning is aimed at designers, estates and clinical staff.

Part B: the operational guidance for theatre staff is concerned with the handling of sterile packs/trays received from the Central Decontamination Unit (CDU) and the handling of surgical instruments after use and transport to the CDU. The operational guidance is intended for staff who have responsibility for receiving, storing and using sterile pack/trays (e.g. theatre managers, stores personnel, theatre staff and porters).

Reference can be made to the NHSScotland guide to the carriage of dangerous goods regulations with respect to used medical devices published by HFS in December 2013.

*This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email nss.feedback@nhs.scot. We will do our best to assist where possible and practicable. It would be helpful if you tell us what format you need and advise on any assistive technologies you are using.