SMTL Blog
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SMTL have commenced a testing programme for the NHS England Clinical Evaluation Team (CET). The CET reviews and assesses healthcare consumables used by the NHS to identify products that enable staff to provide the highest standard of patient care and deliver the best outcomes for the NHS, and their work will inform the future development of national clinical criteria across various product categories.
SMTL have agreed a work programme with the CET to undertake the testing of advanced woundcare dressings, which they will use as part of their clinical evaluation reports, merging the CET's clinical expertise with SMTL's medical device technical and testing expertise.
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Matthew Alderman has been working as a Procurement manager in NWSSP for 7 years, and for this whole period he has been involved with the Non-Luer project and a member of the Welsh Government Wales Non-Luer Connectors Reference Group (WNCRG). In recent years he has also taken on the responsibility for liaising on test programmes being run by SMTL for Procurement Services contracts.
We are pleased to announce that we recently appointed Matthew as Operations Manager for SMTL. Matt's role will continue to include the Non-Luer project and liaison with procurement colleagues, but he will also now deal with other SMTL operational matters and our evolving human factors/usability expertise.
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The SMTL have been working with Consultant ENT surgeon Mr Dave Owens and one of his ENT registrars to undertake in vitro assessments of the hydrostatic head required to penetrate grommets.
The insertion of grommets is a common procedure in children in the UK, and patients frequently express concern about the impact of the procedure on their ability to participate in swimming and other water-based activities. Currently there is little information available regarding the actual likelihood of water penetrating through a grommet.
In the laboratory, a novel model was constructed to replicate a grommet inserted through a tympanic membrane. Four test solutions (deionised water, sodium chloride, 10% soapy water and 10ppm chlorinate water) were applied to the model at a constant rate until bubbles and droplets were observed at the outlet of the grommet. The hydrostatic head at these points of breakthrough was then recorded.
Results indicate significant differences in the breakthrough pressures for the various test fluids. A paper is being prepared for publication.
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An FAQ targeted at the UK NHS, based on an original FAQ coordinated by CHPSO and GEDSA is now available (PDF download).
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In November 2016, SMTL once again hosted UKAS, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, for their annual independent inspection of SMTL. During 2 days of inspections our staff were observed and quizzed over the testing of medical hosiery, gloves and various other medical devices. The inspectors also scrutinize our Quality Management System (QMS).
The inspection went well, and once again UKAS have recommended that SMTL maintain their accreditation status.
SMTL's latest UKAS accreditation schedule is available for download from the UKAS website.
