Tristel Regulatory News (TSTL)

TRISTEL plc

("Tristel", "the Company" or "the Group")

New Zealand ENT study shows Tristel Wipes System benefits

Tristel plc (AIM: TSTL), the manufacturer of infection prevention, contamination control and hygiene products, announces that a New Zealand study has demonstrated the productivity and costs benefits brought about through the introduction of the Tristel Wipes System for use on nasendoscopes in Ear Nose and Throat out-patient clinics, compared to a centralized decontamination process.

The study was undertaken by Counties Manukau Health Board, in the ENT out-patients clinic, and focussed on the benefits of adopting the Tristel Wipes System for the high-level disinfection of nasendoscopes. The results of the study were presented at the 3rd Asia Pacific Healthcare Forum in September 2014.

The ENT out-patient service at Counties Manukau Hospital is one of New Zealand's busiest with an average of 94 flexible nasendoscopies being carried out each week during the twelve month study. The hospital turned to the Wipes System in an attempt to resolve various problems that the incumbent decontamination process - a Steris System 1 automated endoscope reprocessor located in a Central Sterilisation Service Department ('CSSD') - could not. The problems were:-

· The incumbent process involved such a slow turnaround time for the endoscopes that it caused increased frustrations amongst the clinicians as they did not have nasendoscopes available when needed to examine patients;

· There was a flow-on effect of stress for all departmental staff;

· The endoscope reprocessor and the transportation of the scopes around the hospital increased damage to them putting pressure on the hospital's scope fleet;

 The Study documented the effects of the change to the Wipes System which were found to be:-

· An immediate, noticeable decrease in clinician frustration;

· An immediate increased turnaround time in scope reprocessing and scope availability;

· Decreased appointment time/ waiting time for patients due to scopes being readily available;

· Cost savings from the scopes being decontaminated in the ENT out-patient clinic as opposed to being transported to and from the CSSD.

The annual cost savings of the Wipes System compared to Steris System 1, which included the reduction in staff time involved in scope reprocessing, were calculated at NZ101,950 (approximately UK£50,000). The concluding observations of the ENT department staff were that 72% strongly agreed and 28% agreed that the implementation of the Wipes System had been a success.

More details of the study are available here: http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/6479W_1-2014-11-10.pdf

Paul Swinney, Chief Executive of Tristel plc, said: "This is the latest published study to confirm the productivity and cost benefits of the Tristel Wipes System. We enable endoscopes to be decontaminated within the out-patient clinic, avoiding the risks and time delays of transporting instruments around the hospital. At Counties Manukau, before Tristel was adopted, it was often not possible for the ENT clinician to complete a full examination of the patient because a decontaminated scope was not available. This would require the patient either to return for another visit or to endure a long wait.

"The benefits of the Wipes System are now widely documented and this has become a major factor in their global success. During our last financial year 2.2 million decontamination procedures were undertaken using the Wipes System in 41 countries."

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