Endoscopy Review Group findings published

The UK Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has published the findings of an independent review into endoscope decontamination in Northern Ireland.

The review was commissioned in June last year following concerns about the effectiveness of decontamination of endoscopes in some locations.

The independent Endoscopy Review Group, under the chairmanship of Dame Deirdre Hine, has carried out an extensive programme of visits to Trusts throughout Northern Ireland. The main purpose of the review was to examine the systems and processes in place within Trusts, to ensure the effective cleaning and high-level disinfection of flexible endoscopes before and after their use on patients.

The review found that, in general, endoscopies carried out in Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Trusts are undertaken by staff who are both caring and careful. It noted that there was considerable enthusiasm for improving the current decontamination arrangements and considered that the likelihood of a recurrence of the original problem was very small. The detailed scrutiny of operational practises, however did identify a number of areas in which procedures can be improved.

Welcoming the report, Angela Smith, Minister for Health, Social

Services and Public Safety said: "The Endoscopy Review Group has produced a comprehensive report with a wide range of recommendations which, when implemented, will lead to significant improvements in the current system. My Department has accepted all of the recommendations and work is already under way to implement these recommendations. A Departmental Steering Group has been established to oversee and monitor progress.

"It is important that the public has confidence in the use of endoscopes, particularly as their use has saved thousands of lives. That is why I asked Dame Deirdre to carry out a comprehensive review of current practices. It is reassuring that the Endoscopy Group has highlighted that, in general, endoscopies carried out in Northern Ireland are undertaken by staff that are both caring and careful and that the original problem is unlikely to recur.

"Dame Deirdre has identified a number of areas where our systems and procedures can be further improved. We will now work closely with Trusts to ensure all the recommendations are carried out as quickly as possible."

Chair of the Endoscopy Review Group, Dame Deirdre Hine, said: "We were asked to undertake a rigorous review of this important area of clinical care. I think that our report shows that we have done just that. We found much to praise in the way that endoscopy services are delivered in Northern Ireland but, inevitably, our searching Review highlighted instances where policy and practice could be improved.

"I am pleased with the response of the Department and the Boards and Trusts to our findings and I am confident that this, together with the care and enthusiasm of staff in the Trusts, will ensure that these services are among the safest in the world in future.

"I would therefore urge anyone who is offered an endoscopy to have no hesitation in taking up that offer, as it is an important part of patient investigation and treatment."

The publication of this Review follows the completion of precautionary testing of a number of patients to ensure that they were not put at risk. All individuals have now been followed up and informed of their test results. The results show that none of those tested contracted any infection as a result of an endoscopy.