Surgeons unhappy at sterilisation service provided by private firms - The Independent 25th April 2008

NHS patients are having operations cancelled at the last minute because private decontamination firms have broken sensitive instruments or sent them back late, says the Royal College of Surgeons. The college surveyed 250 surgeons and found two-thirds were unhappy with the availability and condition of instruments removed from hospital operating theatres for sterilisation off-site by private companies. While most of the work was fine, costly equipment was being broken and too much was coming back late or going missing, the RCS said.

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