TWO reports announced in the region have highlighted the continued risk to patients from contaminated surgical instruments.

A Patients Association survey among NHS managers indicates there is "chaos and confusion" over the management of infection control and instrument decontamination issues following recent reorganisation.

A separate survey showed that 84 per cent of 80 endoscopic surgeons were so concerned about the potential risk of contamination that they would like to see disposable instruments used in all "high-risk" operations. Half of them would like disposables used on every patient.

The results of the two surveys were announced at an event organised by the Patients Association in Newcastle yesterday.

It follows earlier surveys by the group in which one out of ten infection control staff said hospitals were re-using single- use instruments.

A month ago, 24 patients at Middlesbrough General Hospital were told they may have been accidentally exposed to the deadly CJD brain disease after sharing contaminated instruments.

An investigation ordered by Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Liam Donaldson is now complete, and a report is with the Department of Health.

Twelve of the new Strategic Health Authorities responded to the Patients Association survey, which asked about how infection control and decontamination issues are monitored and taken forward.

Half of them said they were not monitoring relevant data from their local hospitals.

It was also unclear to what extent the SHAs are being consulted by the Department of Health on the future of hospital sterile service departments.

Simon Williams, director of policy for the Patients Assocation, said: "This survey indicates there is a huge amount of confusion among health authorities over an issue of vital concern to patients.

The recent reorganisation of the NHS has caused chaos and the new authorities are unsure of their responsibilities. There is need for more effective guidance from the Government."

Professor Michael Bailey, vice-president of the Association of Endoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, said: "The issue of the decontamination of re-usable surgical instruments is extremely important.

"One way to overcome the problems associated with re-use is to employ single-use surgical devices. Single-use devices have the advantage of combining quality and safety."

Last year, the Department of Health announced it was spending an extra £200m on upgrading NHS instrument decontamination facilities.