When most people think about patient safety, their mind goes to the operating table: to surgeons, anaesthetists, and nurses. But safety is built far earlier. Sterile Services, Endoscopy, and Decontamination teams form the first line of defence against infection and surgical delays.

At Athera, we believe these teams are the unsung heroes of patient safety, working tirelessly to ensure that every patient can enter theatres with confidence. Their impact is profound, even when it’s behind the scenes.

To spotlight this, we asked two of our customers: Humber Health Partnership and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Basingstoke site), to share their perspectives.

Humber Health Partnership: Quality at the Centre

The Sterile Services team at Humber are responsible for ensuring that surgical equipment arrives at theatres in a usable state: free from contamination, and on time. Their work directly reduces the risk of infection and helps procedures start as planned.

In June 2025, they introduced a dedicated Quality Manager role, supported by Athera’s FingerPrint’s software insights. This role ensures that every process carried out in the department keeps the patient’s best interest at its centre, supporting technicians and team leaders with targeted analysis and guidance.

We sat down with Lian-Amy Pywell, CDU Deputy Manager, Humber Health Partnership, to find out more about her role in Patient Safety:

My team are responsible for ensuring surgical equipment arrives to the theatres in a usable state. Free from contamination reducing the risk of an infection for the patient and on time helping to enable procedures to be carried out on time.

What patient safety initiative or outcome are you most proud of?

In June 2025,  we hired a Quality Manager who ensures the work carried out in the department has the best interest of the patient at the centre. They perform analysis using Athera FingerPrint and are able to support Technicians and Team leaders where it is needed.

Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospitals: Traceability Driving Accountability

With the right tools (in this case, Athera FingerPrint), the Endoscopy team at Basingstoke have strengthened infection control and created a culture of true accountability. For Abdul Youssef, Decontamination Lead at Hampshire Hospitals, the impact has been clear:

It’s improved accountability, reduced turnaround times, and strengthened infection control.

But Abdul is quick to point out that technology is only part of the story. The real difference lies in his people: senior technicians who have gone above and beyond by leading training, designing visual guides, and stepping up during shortages.

We ensure endoscopes are thoroughly decontaminated and safe for reuse. Our work prevents infections and supports safe, effective procedures—making us a key part of the patient safety chain.

– Abdul Youssef

Read the full interview here:

Why is your team crucial for patient safety?
“We ensure endoscopes are thoroughly decontaminated and safe for reuse. Our work prevents infections and supports safe, effective procedures—making us a key part of the patient safety chain.”

What initiative are you most proud of?
“Implementing a traceability system for endoscope reprocessing. It’s improved accountability, reduced turnaround times, and strengthened infection control.”

Who would you like to shoutout this Patient Safety Week?
“Our senior technicians gone above and beyond—leading training, creating visual guides, and stepping up during equipment shortages to keep procedures running safely.”

How can the industry improve when it comes to highlighting some of the teams involved in safe surgeries?
“The industry can improve by broadening the narrative around surgical safety to include all the behind-the-scenes teams—like decontamination, sterile services, and equipment management. These teams are often invisible to patients and even to some clinical staff, yet they are foundational to safe care. Recognition programs, cross-departmental education, and inclusion in safety briefings and campaigns can help bridge this gap. When we celebrate every link in the safety chain, we strengthen the whole system”

The Pillars of Patient Safety

From these stories, four clear pillars emerge that form the foundation of safer care:

1. Sterilisation: Ensuring instruments are free from contamination is the baseline of safety. Without it, no procedure can begin.
2. Traceability: Systems that track every instrument and device create accountability, reduce delays, and build trust.
3. Human Expertise: Behind every process is a person whose judgement, training, and dedication safeguard patients. Recognising their contribution matters.
4. Innovation: from new roles like Quality Managers to digital traceability systems like FingerPrint, innovation ensures safety practices evolve with the demands of ever-changing healthcare policies

Recognition is a Safety Imperative

Both Humber and Basingstoke highlight the same truth: patient safety is a team effort, and recognition strengthens it. By celebrating sterile services, decontamination, and technical staff as essential links in the safety chain, we create a culture where safety is owned by everyone.

When we celebrate every link in the safety chain, we strengthen the whole system.

– Abdul Youssef, Senior Endoscopy Decontamination Supervisor, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital

Patient safety isn’t just a day. It’s a commitment. And together we go further.