Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 163-2026
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
You asked:
Regarding timing in endoscope reprocessing:
1. How many endoscopes are reprocessed at your trust per month?
Our response:
Approximately 836.
You asked:
2. Is the time interval between procedure and pre-cleaning recorded?
Our response:
No, but procedure finish time and bed side clean time are recorded on separate records.
You asked:
a. If so, how is this recorded?
b. What is the average time taken to reach a pre-cleaned state?
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
3. Is the time interval between pre-cleaning and manual cleaning recorded?
Our response:
No, scopes are manually cleaned straight after bed side clean always.
You asked:
a. If so, how is this recorded?
b. What is the average time taken to reach manual cleaning?
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
4. Are there timestamps for individual stages of reprocessing?
Our response:
Staff are trained to provide adequate length of time for each stage as per HTM 01-06 guidelines.
You asked:
a. How are timestamps recorded during reprocessing?
Our response:
Through an independent monitoring system and paper records.
You asked:
5. Is the duration of manual cleaning recorded?
Our response:
No, the scope tech process of flushing the scope takes a minimum of 1 minute 30 seconds. Prior to this the scope is leak tested, manually inspected, cleaned and valves brushed in detergent sink before flushing.
You asked:
a. If so, how is this recorded?
b. What is the average duration of manual cleaning?
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
6. Is endoscope turnaround time monitored?
Our response:
Yes.
You asked:
a. If so, how is this monitored?
Our response:
Endoscopes are rotated for use so that all scopes have equal usage.
You asked:
b. What is the average turnaround time now?
Our response:
All endoscopes are used at least 3-4 times per week.
You asked:
c. What was it 6 months ago?
Our response:
All endoscopes were used at least 3-4 times per week.
You asked:
7. How are critical time barriers monitored?
Our response:
All staff are highly trained in recognising and monitoring time restrictions on Endoscopes.
You asked:
8. Is there a staff member responsible for time management?
Our response:
No, all staff working in decontamination and the procedure room on that specific day are responsible for the time management of scopes.
You asked:
a. If so, who undertakes this responsibility?
Our response:
All staff working in decontamination and the procedure room on that specific day.
You asked:
Regarding staffing and traceability:
1. How many staff members are designated for endoscopy reprocessing?
Our response:
6 HCA’s and 5 nurses are trained in Stroud & 4 HCA’s and 6 trained nurses in Cirencester endoscopy reprocessing.
You asked:
2. Are staffing levels for manual cleaning monitored?
Our response:
Staff are allocated daily to work in decontamination rooms.
You asked:
a. How many staff members are involved in this process?
Our response:
One person will complete the manual clean and load the scope into the EWD.
You asked:
3. Are staffing levels for pre-cleaning monitored?
Our response:
The accessorising nurse completes the bedside clean.
You asked:
a. How many staff members are involved in the process?
Our response:
Two people – One person to complete the bedside clean, and one person to complete the manual clean.
You asked:
4. How many staff members are involved in the transport process (from pre-clean to manual clean)?
Our response:
One.
You asked:
5. Does your trust use an electronic tracking/traceability system?
Our response:
Yes.
You asked:
a. If so, what is the name/type of the system?
Our response:
Process Manager.
You asked:
6. How do staff know which scopes should be reprocessed first?
Our response:
We are 2 small units (1 procedure room on each site) so scopes always come into decontamination in the order used.
You asked:
7. Would staff be interested in time-lapse indicator labels?
Our response:
No.
You asked:
Regarding delays in endoscope reprocessing:
1. Is delay information formally recorded?
Our response:
No, Not applicable.
You asked:
a. If so, how is this recorded?
b. What are the most common causes of delays in reprocessing?
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
2. How many scopes, on average, are not reprocessed within one hour per month?
Our response:
Zero.
You asked:
a. What was this figure a year ago?
Our response:
Zero.
You asked:
3. How many endoscopes are returned for reprocessing per month due to delays?
Our response:
Zero.
You asked:
a. What was this figure a year ago?
Our response:
Zero.
You asked:
4. How many endoscopes are reprocessed out of sequence per month?
Our response:
Zero.
You asked:
a. What was this figure a year ago?
Our response:
Zero.
You asked:
5. What is the distance travelled by a scope in-between pre-cleaning and manual cleaning?
Our response:
10 Steps.
You asked:
6. How many procedures are delayed per month due to endoscopes being unavailable?
Our response:
Zero.
You asked:
a. Why are scopes unavailable?
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
b. What was this figure a year ago?
Our response:
Not applicable.
Next steps:
Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:
Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.