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NMH | 2024 167 Quality & Safety Services T he Central Decontamination Unit (CDU) is the area within the Hospital that all Reusable Invasive Medical Devices (RIMD) are re-processed. The aim of the CDU is to prevent a Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) by ensuring patient equipment is available and sterile for use at all times. This is achieved through the following processes: Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilisation. We are committed to the highest level of quality in the decontamination of RIMD. Sterility assured re-processing of RIMD is achieved through adherence with Decontamination Policies, Procedures and Guidelines. All decontamination equipment is serviced and validated quarterly by external suitably qualified engineers, and all validation reports are sent to an external Authorised Decontamination Expert for review and sign off. Activity levels continue to remain high year on year. In total 37,529 packs were sterilised in 2024; the increase is due to extra activity in Theatre, the commencement of an Outpatient Hysteroscopy Clinic and a new service introduce of sterilising Breastfeeding kits. The total number of packs sterilised since 2010 is shown in the graph below. Central Decontamination Unit Quality/Risk Following a more robust method of reporting, the total non-conformances for the year represented 2.7% of production: each non-conformance is recorded and a follow up action taken. Chemical and Manual Handling Risk Assessments are reviewed annually. Audits The following audits took place during the year: • Daily quality control audit • Quarterly environmental monitoring • Weekly automatic control test • Monthly key performance indicators • Monthly hygiene audits Infection Control Four Environmental Monitoring audits took place in 2024 where we sampled the air and surfaces from all rooms and water from the reverse osmosis water treatment unit. The results were discussed at the quarterly Infection Control meetings and any remedial actions identified were implemented. Pam Hutchings, CDU Manager/ Decontamination Lead. 40,000 2010 35,000 30,000 25,000 15,000 Number of Packs Processed 2019-2023 20,000 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 18,220 31,357 30,223 30,628 32,309 34,131 35,448 34,133 34,491 34,426 30,221 33,543 33,345 33,764 37,329 Valentina Netotu, Central Decontamination Unit.