The reality of being an AE(D) ‘at the sharp end’

This article is written around the experiences of being an AE(D) working within the National Health Service. The examples given are actual experiences, but, for obvious reasons, details are not quoted. I retired from my position in the Welsh Health Service about two and half years ago, after 43 years’ service, 35 of which were spent in the sterilisation and decontamination field. In that time, I saw great changes in the structure of organisations, political dogma and policies, technical guidance, and, of course, equipment designs and standards. However, the purpose for most of us during this timeline was to ensure that we did our best with the equipment we had at the time, always thinking of the good of the patients.

At present, I chair the IHEEM AE (D) Registration Board, which is responsible for the appointment of newly registered AE (D)s to the IHEEM register, plus the registration of existing AEs on a threeyear cycle process. We have developed a new competency framework in partnership with Eastwood Park for this process. The Board that I chair has done a great deal of work over recent years to establish this framework and structure of working to ensure that best practice is implemented. For each candidate who engages with this process, it requires a lot of time and diligence to complete the various sections of the framework, and for us on the Board to fully support their pathway. We are trying very hard to establish the scheme, enabling each candidate to understand the various aspects of decontamination – from standards and equipment, to process and management skills. It is therefore fair to ask the question – ‘What do you expect from an AE (D)?’

Fair to expect a superman?