CASE STUDY: Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) has installed ChemDAQ’s peracetic acid vapour monitoring system, the sole UK distributor iM Med has recently announced.

The move - in line with best practice guidance of the Royal College of Physicians Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on GI endoscopy - follows the success of iM Med’s cost-saving service and maintenance contract and type tested chemistry for the endoscope washer-disinfectors (EWDs) at the trust’s Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.

Jeffrey Price, the trust’s decontamination manager, explains: “JAG raised the lack of a peracetic acid vapour monitor and their auditor mentioned that iM Med offered a solution. We spoke about it and contacted them. They had the president and CEO of ChemDAQ over from the USA at the time, so we met with them, went through the products we were looking at and our options.”

Historically there had been occasions when the team smelt an odour, but without a monitor they were unsure what it was. Peracetic acid vapour is hazardous at quite low levels. Following the installation of the monitor there is an assurance that the staff are safe.

Outlining the earlier move to iM Med, Jeff says: “As a trust, we are always looking for service improvements. Through discussion with iM Med’s representative we obtained a quote for their service and maintenance of the EWDs. Safety is always our first priority but this also showed a substantial saving as well as offering a comprehensive customer service package.

“We started thinking about chemistry for the EWDs when we were talking with iM Med about the peracetic acid monitor,” says Jeff. “We agreed to a trial of their type tested chemistry on one machine and everything went swimmingly.

“We even tied in a deal on the peracetic acid monitors, which was a further benefit. 

Speaking in the endoscope decontamination unit, Jenny Stewart, clinical and operational service lead for endoscopy, said: “When it comes to issues such as servicing of the machines it’s also about safeguarding the patients. We’re looking for best value and best practice. If there is a cost-saving this is re-invested back into the service provision.”

The trust’s Premium service contract with iM Med began in 2018. The company’s experienced technical service engineers live locally and are performing well with timing on call outs, often on site on the same day that they are contacted, together with the appropriate part if a replacement is required.

The service contract covers the department’s five double chamber EWDs, six drying and storage cabinets and endoscope vacuum packing machine. There are monthly meetings with iM Med to ensure everything is on track. These include KPI reports which have all been good.

Abdelaziz Youssef (Abdul), team leader for decontamination, says: 

“The guys in customer service are very helpful, they always get back to us and let us know quickly which engineer is coming and when. We correspond by email and there’s always a fast response. It’s all worked smoothly, with the engineers just coming in as required and to do testing.”

The quarterly and annual tests reports are sent to Tracey Miller, the trust’s AE(D), for sign off.

I am more than happy with the content and the quality of the validation reports that are presented for audit,” comments Tracey Miller. “We also know that any queries are answered rapidly by iM Med, so our time is not impacted.”

Discussing their move to iM Med chemicals, Abdul says: 

iM Med produces the disinfectant and detergent required for a range of EWDs by designing and manufacturing equivalent type tested recipes in a UK manufacturing plant. This enables NHS trusts to make a choice based on safety and quality to transition to iM Med for the provision chemistry. It also provides an opportunity for trusts to open-up the procurement of service and consumables, allowing hospitals to procure based on quality for the life costs of their equipment, without being restricted to manufacturer-only purchasing.

“There’s a cost saving with the chemicals too, which is always good. Again, that’s recouped into the service provision,” says Jenny.

The conversion to iM Med chemistry commenced in 2020, with each machine tested with the chemistry and the resulting report signed-off by the trust’s AE(D). With the use of the chemicals being slightly different, training was included as part of the service and delivered by Zoe Fayers Rust, iM Med’s compliance division manager.

There had been issues with the dosing system of the previous chemicals, which used a needle to pierce the silicon top of the container. The machines had alarmed due to leaks. iM Med’s chemicals use a different dosing system, without silicon, or piercing. The staff find the connection process very straightforward and there have been no issues with the machines or the chemicals.

Significant cost savings have also been made on consumables, as Abdul explains: “iM Med supply the connectors for the machines and there’s a massive price difference and no difference in quality - which is very good. They also supply the clear and red bags for transporting the scopes and we’ve saved money on that too. The transport bags and the bags for the vacuum packing machine are all very good.”

The JAG audit for compliance requires endoscope decontamination departments to have a peracetic acid monitor installed for the safety of patients and staff. iM Med is the sole UK distributor of the ChemDAQ peracetic acid monitoring system. The plug and play system provides continuous monitoring and recording, giving tracking for JAG monthly reports. These can be time-weighted and downloaded.

Jenny says: “ChemDAQ was installed in February this year to meet staff safety requirements and we had training from iM Med in how to use it. The system gives assurance on levels and will alarm green or red and audibly when certain levels are reached. But we’ve had no issues. All reports have been good.”

ChemDAQ is now installed in the EDU at each of the trust’s hospitals: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Andover War Memorial Hospital and Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester. 

Helena Tilley, iM Med’s account manager, says: 

Abdul adds: “The service contract we have with iM Med is amazing. It’s working very well and we’ve renewed the contract for the third year. That shows things are going well. There are no delays with consumables or chemicals and the staff are happy with the chemicals and feel safer.

“Everything about the company, the service and the products, makes you feel safe, and that’s good for our priority - the safety of the patient.”