A Unit which sterilises around 2.6 million hospital instruments a year for use across NHS Forth Valley has received a glowing report following an unannounced inspection.

The Area Sterilisation Disinfection Unit (ASDU), which is based at Falkirk Community Hospital, received a clean bill of health following a recent visit from Lloyds’s Register Quality Assurance. The visit was only the second of its kind in Scotland and the first by the Lloyds, who are one of the leading independent assessors.

Lynsay Gracie, NHS Forth Valley’s ASDU Manager said: “This report highlights our ongoing commitment to provide the patients of NHS Forth Valley with safe, sterile and fit-for-purpose medical devices used in theatres and clinics throughout the board area. I would like to thank all of the staff involved for helping to ensure the Unit maintains consistently high standards.”

The ASDU in Falkirk was also the first Unit in Scotland to become accredited to BSEN ISO 13485 – a quality management standard particularly for reusable medical devices.