09.07.12
Surgery equipment fails to meet safety standards
NHS cuts could lead to doctors operating on patients with outdated equipment, the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ALSGBI) has warned.
An audit of theatre equipment used for laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery found that only 15% meets the highest standards for equipment safety and design. Additionally, 22% of hospitals did not have high definition imaging screens to aid surgeons in their work.
ALSGBI president Professor Timothy Rockall said: “It is worrying that surgeons are still having to use equipment which may limit the operations they can perform safely.
“You can’t buy a non-HD television on the high street even if you wanted to and yet in our hospitals we see old and poor quality television screens being used for complex operations.
“We hope the result of this audit encourages surgeons and management to discuss upgrading their equipment to improve standards and to reassure patients that the best service is being provided.”
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