Internal Reference Number: FOI_9462
Date Request Received: 16/06/2026 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 29/06/2026 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Instrument Trays
Request Category: Health
| Question Number 1: I am conducting a project examining variation in instrument tray composition for laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures across NHS organisations, with a view to identifying opportunities for standardisation, efficiency improvement, and environmental sustainability. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would be grateful if you could provide the following information relating to laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures performed within your Trust. Procedure Volume a) How many laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures were performed within your Trust during the most recently completed financial year? | |
| Answer To Question 1: 471 procedures in 2025-26 financial year | |
| Question Number 2: Instrument Tray Composition a) Please provide the current instrument inventory list(s) for the standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy instrument tray(s) used within your Trust. b) If more than one laparoscopic cholecystectomy tray configuration is used within the Trust, please provide the inventory list for each version. c) Please indicate whether the inventory lists supplied represent: 鈥� A standardised Trust-wide tray; 鈥� Site-specific trays; or 鈥� Consultant/surgeon-specific trays. | |
| Answer To Question 2: a/as below configuration Light lead with 1 adaptor (WA03210A) or KARL STORZ 495NCS (Make sure connector is attached) (in pouch) Please ensure the Diathermy Lead and adaptor fit together LAP LEAD Diathermy Hook (Make sure connector is attached) Scope warmer tube Scope warmer tube screw (in pouch) Please ensure the Diathermy Lead and adaptor fit together Fenestrated Graspers and black bung Endoweave Grasper and black bung Metzenbaum Scissor and black bung Curved Dissector and black bung b/one set c/standardised trust wide tray | |
| Question Number 3: Tray Standardisation a) Does the Trust have a formal policy, guideline, or standard operating procedure relating to laparoscopic cholecystectomy instrument tray composition? If yes, please provide a copy. b) Has the Trust undertaken any review, rationalisation, optimisation, or redesign of laparoscopic cholecystectomy instrument trays within the last five years? If yes, please provide any reports, summaries, business cases, or recommendations that are held. | |
| Answer To Question 3: a/not aware of this but evaluation would have been undertaken when purchasing these sets b/we are currently in the process of replacing our instrumentation and an evaluation has been undertaken with our teams | |
| Question Number 4: Reusable and Disposable Instrumentation a) Does the Trust routinely use reusable laparoscopic instruments or disposable single-use laparoscopic instruments for laparoscopic cholecystectomy? b) Please provide any existing inventory or documentation identifying which components are reusable and which are single-use. | |
| Answer To Question 4: a) We use reusable instruments. b) As above list of instruments are all reusable, see Q2a. | |
| Question Number 5: Sterilisation and Tray Processing a) How many instrument trays or sterilisation containers are routinely opened for a standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure? b) Are trays supplied in: 鈥� Reusable rigid sterilisation containers; 鈥� Sterile wrap systems; or 鈥� Both? | |
| Answer To Question 5: a) We open 2 trays for Lap Chole procedure plus a lap pack for the consumables and drapes. b) Sterile wrap system in din basket | |
| Question Number 6: Sustainability Initiatives a) Has the Trust undertaken any sustainability-related initiative/audit specifically relating to surgical instrument trays, reusable instrumentation, waste reduction, or operating theatre environmental impact within the last five years? If yes, please provide any reports, presentations, business cases, or policies held. | |
| Answer To Question 6: a) Sustainability Initiatives 鈥� Answer is no from Surgery team and Medical Devices Audit team The following audits have been logged on our tracking system and mention sustainability: 1. Heathcare Improvement Project on Sustainability within Operating Theatres (data: 2024) Presented to Clinical Governance and the Hospital Board in 2024. All actions complete. Please see attached report and presentation. 2. Evaluation of single-use chlorhexidine prep-sticks on the economic and environmental sustainability, and patient post-operative wound infection outcomes in general surgery Audit in progress. Please see attached registration. 3. Operating theatre 鈥� Cost efficiency & environmental impact Presented to Clinical Governance in February. To accompany this answer to question 6 please also see the documents listed below:  20260625141647_heathcareimprovemen (2).pdf Registration-Evaluation-of-singl.pdf Sustainability within Operating theatres.pdf | |
| Question Number 7: Sterilisation and Reprocessing Costs a) Does the Trust hold information on the cost of sterilisation, decontamination, reprocessing, or preparation of laparoscopic cholecystectomy instrument trays? If yes, please provide: 鈥� The most recent estimated cost per tray sterilisation/reprocessing cycle | |
| Answer To Question 7: This is a shared venture with Steris but the costs are commercially sensitive - please see exemption attached | |
| Please see Attachments: | |
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