Sterile supply needs for specialized units

Sterile supply to specialized units means providing those items which cannot be safely obtained in the form required from other sources, e.g. commercial supplies. Items can be great or small, simple or complex, but are more likely to be the latter. While the service is available to any user within the hospital or community, I have attempted to identify those areas which might generally be regarded as special. The list below highlights the mix of specialized areas catered for by the average central service department, where provision of basic dressings, instruments and utensils would be insufficient to provide the quality of service required. Central service is more internationally acceptable as a term for the department which supplies reprocessing facilities, e.g. sterilization or disinfection services to a whole variety of health care users: Bone marrow assessment/treatment; burns and plastic surgery; cardiac catheterization; chiropody; dental; dialysis; endoscopy; ear, nose and throat; intensive therapy (including coronary care); isolation (source and protective); medical research; operating theatres; ophthalmology; radiology; radiotherapy/oncology; respiratory therapy.