ven the best equipment canfail when faced with the24/7 operation demanded

in a busy sterile servicesdepartment - that’s when areliable service that gets you upand running fast is essential.George Needham, sterile

services manager at UniversityHospitals Coventry andWarwickshire NHS Trust, toldInside Hospitals how theshowpiece decontaminationfacility’s workload hasincreased significantly andabout the key role played by itsvalidation and service provider -Audere Medical Services.“Production has improved

and increased dramatically over

E“One call does it all”

Inside HospitalsOctober 201000

DECONTAMINATIONwww.inside-hospitals.co.uk

With the trust serving apopulation of over one million,the department supports over 30operating theatres at UniversityHospital, Coventry; Hospital ofSt Cross, Rugby; and theadjacent BMI Meridan privatehospital - so a reliable plannedand preventive maintenanceservice is critical.“One call solves the

problem,” explained George.“And the quality of Audere’sstaff is impeccable. There’s aquick response facility in placefor urgent breakdowns, theengineers solve the problem orask for advice from a colleagueif required. So within minutes ofarriving on site they know whatto do and the service istraceable. They respect ourenvironment too - the engineersare very safety conscious in thatthey always ensure they leavethe areas clean and tidy. Whenthey are on-site they do a firstclass job. Communicationbetween staff and the engineersis also very good.“I find the response from

Audere’s head office isexcellent - impeccable, veryfriendly - I’ve never had aproblem,” added George. “Theyreturn calls, with answers fromKen or Gareth (the directors) ifrequired.”Audere is responsible for the

validation, service andmaintenance of the department’swasher-disinfectors, autoclavesand steam generators, togetherwith validation of two gasplasma machines and has fullresponsibility for two AERs intheatres.“The work went out to tender

two years ago,” said George.“Audere retained the contract.Knowing Ken and his team for18 years helps, but they gave abetter submission and impressedthe team on the tender board oncost, the quality of products theywere using - all brand new partsfrom the manufacturer - and theexcellent service from theskilled engineers.”It’s a three year contract, with

a further two years forcontinuation, and during thattime equipment and procedures

will continue to develop. Therehave been improvements inquality and the ergonomics ofthe department since InsideHospitals first reported on theimpressive facility back in 2005.“The department employees

63 staff and is open Monday toFriday 24-hours a day and from8am to 9pm on Saturday andSunday,” said George. “Wehave two co-ordinators whospecialise in different fields ofsurgical instrumentation, one inorthopaedics and one in general

surgery, amongst other duties.“The staffs here are very

professional and efficient. Wealways involve staff in makingany changes to the departmentto improve the processes andsystems.“Our staff training is

paramount to the developmentof the department and isprovided on-site. Staffs aretrained to NVQ Level 3Decontamination standards. Atpresent three staff has gainedthis qualification and six more

are undertaking thiscourse.”George added: “We

have invested in newtechnology byupgrading the Sterradgas plasma sterilizers.Further investment hasbeen made available fornew washer/disinfectors and fornew autoclaves in thefuture on a replacementprogramme.”The department has

welcomed a largenumber of visitors fromthe UK and abroad to

have a look at the Sterrad100NX Steriliser. Audere do theweekly tests on this equipment.Describing the increase in

production, deputy manager,Lynn Friday said; “Thedepartment’s throughput hasdoubled over recent years.”Lynn is responsible for the ISOstandards throughout thedepartment ready for theexternal auditors, Audereprovide training certificates fortheir engineers to support theinternal audits.

recent years,” explained George.“We processed 163,500 trays inthe last financial year.” This hasbeen increasing year on yearsince 2007 when George joinedthe huge Midlands trust.Previously at Glenfield

Hospital, part of LeicesterHospitals NHS Trust andsubsequently the trust’s sterileservices manager, George wasalready working with AudereMedical Services and waspleased to find it was the serviceprovider at Coventry too.

George Needham, sterile services manger UniversityHospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, andLynn Friday, deputy manager

George Needham (left) with Ken Milner,director Audere Medical Services

Audere technicians have PDAs toensure a fast response to call-outs andfull traceability of the job

Inside Hospitals October 2010 00

“To be bold” is the translation ofthe Latin Audere, and that’s justwhat founders Ken Milner andGareth Jones have done. Theseone-time decontaminationcolleagues have developed a teamof highly skilled engineers andsupport staff who deliver such aconsistently high level of servicethat the company has rapidlygrown to become the largestindependent service and validationorganisation in the UK

decontamination industry.The team specialises in the

installation, servicing, testing,commissioning, validation,calibration and upgrading of alltypes of washer-disinfectors,sterilizers, endoscope reprocessorsand decontamination equipment.

The nationwide team oftechnicians and engineers are allqualified Authorised Engineers(Decontamination) and trained forall major UK, European and US

ENQUIRY NO. 000

Boldly moving forward

DECONTAMINATIONwww.inside-hospitals.co.uk

manufacturers’ equipment.All work complies with the

necessary protocols incorporatingHTM 2010, HTM 2030, includingsteam quality testing to HTM2031, IQ, OQ and PQ standardsencompassing HTM 01.

KenMilner

GarethJones

Onsite during InsideHospitals’ visit were two localtechnicians from AudereMedical Services, Andy Sumnerand Steve Hinks. So howexperienced are these guys?“I started work in

decontamination Walsall ManorHospital more than a decadeago, taking courses at EastwoodPark, Falfield - washer-disinfection and sterilizermaintenance, and qualified as aTest Person. I was a traineemanager at Walsall for threeyears, before joining Audere.”explained Andy Sumner, whosepersonal development has seenhim gain full membership ofIDSc in 2008.“I’m based in Walsall. Most

of my work is around theMidlands - Coventry andWarwickshire - but I do workfarther afield across the wholeof the UK.

“The University HospitalsCoventry and WarwickshireNHS Trust SSD department isthe busiest department I workon, the largest amount ofequipment - four washer-disinfectors, five sterilizers andsteam generators and the gasplasma machines. We’re alsoresponsible for the two AERs intheatres.”Andy’s colleague Steve

Hinks brings regal experience

having worked on washer-disinfectors and sterilizers at theKing’s Hospital, Riyadh, SaudiArabia. “When I came back tothe UK, I worked with a leadingdecontamination equipmentmanufacturer for four years oninstallation and service,” said

Steve. “After joiningAudere in 2003, Itrained at EastwoodPark, Falfield. We’renormally working inour regions, so it’slargely the Midlandsfor me too, but I havebeen to Liverpool,Crewe, Manchester andDumfries.“If there’s a problem

we get the customerback up and running asquickly as possible.”On hand too was

Audere director KenMilner, who explained: “Theseguys are typical of the 22engineers around the country,all Eastwood Park andmanufacturer trained. Anyspares the technicians orderfrom the main stores aredespatched by overnightdelivery. And the spares are allmanufacturer generated goods.“We can offer a service

across the decontaminationportfolio. At this Trust, for

example, we workdirectly for George,doing the weekly,quarterly and annualmaintenancevalidation, togetherwith all the on-callservice, 24/7, 365.”Describing the

efficiency andtraceability of the call-out procedure, Kensaid: “For thecustomer it’s just onecall, one contact. Theengineers all workwith PDAs. When acustomer calls, the job

goes straight onto the systemand is sent to the engineer’sPDA. He accepts the job, puts inhis ETA, and logs on when hearrives onsite.“Once the work is completed

we close the job and the systemsends the customer an e-mail to

advise that the job is completed.The invoice is prepared againstthe job and checked before it’ssent to the hospital. So thesystem has full traceability.”The latest techniques and

technology have been a keycomponent in Audere’s success.“We use data loggers forvalidation work and the PDAsfor remote monitoring of thestaff,” said Ken. “Working withRichard Bridger of TQSolutions, we developed TQ-

Audere a bespoke validationpackage exclusively used by ourengineers.“Minimising the risk of any

human error through data inputand interpretation, the systemdelivers consistency across theboard - ensuring equipment istested and validated to the samestandard. Wherever you are, thereport will be the same. It’s allmanaged - no errors.”The TQ-Audere system

provides clients with options forprinted or electronic versions ofthe report and enables AE(d)s toeasily determine if theequipment has passed thespecified tests.The highly qualified

engineers and office staffcertainly deliver a high standardof service. Like any ISO9001 :2008 accredited company,Audere is audited externallyeach year, and each year it has

won the BenchmarkQGold Award for customercare.“We don’t know which

customers they contact, soconsistently achieving theGold Award is a realtestament to the quality ofthe team and theirdedication,” said Ken.Currently logging over

one million kilometres ayear, with decontaminationservice contracts across thecountry, Audere ischanging its vehicles to

drivee - Volvo’s electricstop/start system. The companywill soon achieve its target ofreducing carbon emissions by32%.“As the largest independent

service and validationorganisation in the UK, we’reworking with NHS trusts, PCTs,PFIs, private healthcare,universities and researchlaboratories,” added Ken.“We’re on the NHS SupplyChain Framework Agreementand the National Framework forScotland.“We’re as good as the job the

engineers do. You need the rightstaff with good communicationsskills and consistently winningthe Gold Award shows that’swhat we’ve got.”The final word goes to

George Needham, who said:“The quality of the Audere staffis impeccable.”For further information, call

Audere Medical Services on01291 671271, e-mailinfo@auderemedical.co.uk orvisit www.auderemedical.co.uk

Co-ordinators Lilly Carroll (left) and Mandy Price,with George Needham

With George Needham are (left to right) Val Hillage,technician, Elaine Buswell and Sharon Rouse, CSSDsupervisors. Elaine has 21 years experience with thedepartment. Val and Sharon have passed NVQ Level3 Decontamination

On site were Audere technicians Andy Sumner(left) and Steve Hinks

Oak Suite Llancayo Court Usk South Wales NP15 1HY

Tel. +44 (0)1291 671271 Fax. +44 (0)1291 673007

Email. info@auderemedical.co.uk www.auderemedical.co.uk

Audere Medical Services Ltd

Sterilizers

Washer Disinfectors

Automated Endoscope

Reprocessors

Ultrasonics

Gas Plasma

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Audere Medical Services Limited

Specialists in Decontamination Technology