FEATURE ARTICLES

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS examines the Government’s ambitions for technology in the NHS, how it will shape the future of care for patients, and the potential challenges that must be overcome.

Hospitals are facing rising endoscopy volumes, tightening regulation and a workforce under pressure. The SteelcoBelimed EW1 S Maxi, at the heart of iM Med SteelcoBelimed’s integrated decontamination approach, is helping Trusts deliver consistent, auditable, safer outcomes.

Naomi Allkins discusses the key challenges facing sterile services departments today, and looks at some of the innovative ways in which they are being addressed.

Prab Chadha explores the importance of structured, competency-based training in maintaining high standards within the decontamination sector. He examines current challenges, outlines best practice in education and assessment, and argues that investment in high-quality training is essential to sustaining compliance, resilience and patient safety – now and in the future.

Jørn Terkelsen discusses the hidden reservoirs of contamination in clinical environments and argues that episodic decontamination is no longer enough.

Chris Helson provides an insight into the arrival of collaborative robots – known as cobots – into sterile services departments. In this article, Chris outlines how this innovative technology could disrupt the status quo and transform pre-cleaning and inspection processes.

Each year, the Central Sterilising Club (CSC) hosts two key educational events – the Autumn Study Day and the Annual Scientific Meeting. CSJ takes a look at the highlights of the CSC’s most recent event and provides an insight into what’s coming up next…

For many years, sterile services departments have relied on a comforting assumption: if an instrument appears clean, has followed the appropriate decontamination process, and has been sterilised according to validated procedures, it is safe for use. That assumption is now being quietly but consistently challenged. Dan Coole provides an insight.

The Institute of Decontamination Sciences recently announced a new chair in November 2025. The Clinical Services Journal spoke to Dean Burand about his plans for both the Institute and the decontamination sector. High on the agenda was the need for promoting inclusivity, collaborative networks, and investment in education.

Taking place 28–29 April 2026, at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham, IPC 2026 is dedicated entirely to infection prevention and control — bringing together the people, ideas and innovations shaping the future of safer healthcare.

Endoscope cleaning: one sink or two? Redesigning manual endoscope cleaning to use one sink instead of two can deliver improvements in sustainability and efficiency. A real-world evaluation at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals showed a 15% time saving, a 50% reduction in water use, with zero capital cost. Joshua Hicks and Mutsa Mutowo provide an insight.

Dr. Rachel Hawes OBE recently spoke at The Royal Society of Medicine on trauma, teamwork and saving lives. She shared her experiences with the AfPP.

In this article, Giovanni Dall’Amico discusses the delivery of limb reconstruction in resource-constrained healthcare systems. Healthcare providers under pressure can learn a great deal from conflict zones and Giovanni shares some valuable insights.

In this article, Jędrzej Gromadecki examines the importance of disinfection in reducing the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), within healthcare settings. He highlights how evidence-based practices, emerging technologies, and integration with antimicrobial stewardship programmes can optimise outcomes. By addressing gaps in implementation and leveraging innovation in the disinfection field, healthcare facilities can significantly reduce the transmission of MDROs.

In this article, the Confederation of British Surgery (CBS) highlights the true cost of surgical training. A report by the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) recently revealed the negative impacts on trainee surgeons; 76.8% of trainees reported that surgical training physically impacted their physical health, while 84.3% indicated that it had an adverse effect on their mental health.

Christopher Ogden discusses the role of laser technologies in ensuring safe and traceable surgical instruments and medical devices.

Getting automated probe decontamination right is vital for patient safety and to protect equipment. Nanosonics outlines some key points to be aware of, to ensure the safe decontamination of ultrasound probes.

Mona Guckian Fisher discusses a risk-based and systems approach to perioperative safety. She argues that recognising human variability as both vulnerability and strength allows surgical systems to transform uncertainty from a source of threat into a foundation for resilience.

Dr. Christophe Martinaud, Senior Director, Medical Affairs, EMEA, Cepheid, discusses how healthcare providers can improve the efficiency of infection control with rapid point-of-care PCR testing.

In an interview with AfPP’s Susan Preston, Kim Stephens, the Theatre Matron at Singleton Hospital in Sketty, Wales, shared how age and experience can enhance leadership and impact across perioperative services.