Summary
Responsible for the decontamination, assembly, and sterilization of surgical instruments and medical equipment used in hospitals and day surgery centres.
Key Responsibilities:
- Decontamination checks: Receives washed instruments from wash area. Inspect for cleanliness, blood, tissue
- Functionality test: Check scissors for sharpness, artery forceps for locking, any damage instruments and power tool functions.
- Set assembly: Assemble instruments sets according to count sheet. Ensure all components are present.
- Identify and segregate damaged, rusty or faulty instruments. Tag for repair or condemn as per company policy.
- Packing technique: pack and wrap sets using approved packing material. Use correct aseptic folding techniques to maintain sterility.
- Indicators: Place internal chemical indicators inside each pack. Attach external process indicator tape with ID, date and staff name.
- Special items: Pack loaner sets, power tools, delicate microsurgical instruments per manufacturer instructions.
- Load and sterilize instruments/sets correctly. Run daily bowie dick and leak test.
- Expiry checks: Monitor sterile stocks for expired items. Rotate stock using FIFO
- Adhere to infection control. Keep room clean at all times.
- Stock control: order and top up materials as needed.
Requirements:
Possess WSQ Higher Certificate in Healthcare Support (Sterilisation Services) or GCE N/O levels usually preferred.
1 to 3+ years of operating theatre or clinical setting experience is typically expected.
