New medical gear washers will ease load

Two new machines that clean medical equipment have come online at Wairarapa Hospital.

Serious issues with the sterilisation of medical equipment at Wairarapa Hospital is putting pressure on services, staff and its budget.

Due to "constant mechanical breakdowns and compliance issues" in the hospital's central sterile supply department, it has been under strain but the board has spent $200,000 on two new washers, used to clean medical equipment, to alleviate the pressure.

An audit found "several areas of concern" in the department including outdated washers and lack of clear leadership, space and storage facilities and access to education for staff.

Hospital manager Steve Crew said the machines weren't working as they should have been but there had been no risk to patients.

"There was no chance the equipment wasn't clean."

He said the new washers were installed over the last two weeks with minor impact.

"We had to slow surgery down to deal with this but we still managed to meet all the minister's targets."

Mr Crew said this was thanks to Hutt Hospital helping out. The Hutt team worked extra shifts to process Wairarapa instruments overnight for use the next day.

Mr Crew said the purchase of the washers, from Germany, was a big commitment by the board.

"It will put pressure on the budget."

He said while every hospital would like to have more funding, the purchase was vital to ensure surgical services could continue.

The new washers are bigger, which is better, said sterile supplies manager Shelagh Thomas.

"This means we will no longer have to manually unpack and repack trays with larger instruments, they will all just fit in."

The audit was recorded in the 2013-14 report on serious and sentinel events at the hospital.

A team leader was appointed and an action plan developed for the department to address the audit's other findings.