SMTL Press Release - NAMAS Accreditation.

Surgical Material Testing Laboratory (SMTL) is first NHS Medical Disposables Testing Laboratory to gain NAMAS accreditation by UKAS.

NAMAS accreditation of SMTL means that:

• The testing carried out on medical disposables (such as gloves, bandages, dressings, catheters) is assured to have been performed to the highest standards.
• Clients of SMTL are assured that agreed methods and procedures have been followed.
• Measurements made by SMTL are traceable to national and international standards.
• Test reports and certificates produced by SMTL will be recognised and accepted within the UK and throughout the world, including France, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Sweden and the Netherlands.

SMTL have spent the last 4 years introducing and implementing a comprehensive quality system which was inspected by independent experts as part of the accreditation process. Dr Stephen Thomas, Director of SMTL, said:

"NAMAS accreditation is seen as critical to SMTL's future, and strengthens our unique position in the world medical disposables testing market."

With the advent of European medical device legislation (due in 1998), SMTL will be able to continue to support users and purchasers in the NHS as well as pursuing opportunities within the European Single Market.

The Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory (SMTL) provides a wide range of services to the NHS in Wales and to the medical disposables industry. These include:

• laboratory testing of dressings and medical disposables.
• technical support for Welsh NHS purchasing and contracting activities
• providing information on dressings together with practical advice on the management of problem wounds.
• clinical research into wound management materials
• research into medical disposables and dressings
• investigation of medical disposable incidents for the whole of Wales

Commercial customers of SMTL include 3M Health Care, ConvaTec Europe Ltd., Johnson and Johnson Medical Ltd. and Smith & Nephew Medical Ltd. International customers are scattered throughout Europe, South Africa and the USA.

SMTL test to national and international standards, but also develop test methods, many of which have been adopted by the medical disposables industry and standards organisations.

The department currently employs a total of sixteen staff, including pharmacists, biologists, technicians and nurses.

ENDS

• Dr Stephen Thomas, Director, SMTL, Bridgend General Hospital, Quarella Road, Bridgend. CF31 1JP. Tel: 01656-752820 FAX: 01656-752830 Email: steve@smtl.co.uk
• Mr Peter Phillips, Deputy Director, SMTL, Bridgend General Hospital, Quarella Road, Bridgend. CF31 1JP. Tel: 01656-752820 FAX: 01656-752830 Email: pete@smtl.co.uk

NAMAS

National Accreditation of Measurement and Sampling

UKAS

United Kingdom Accreditation Service

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URL: http://www.smtl.co.uk/MDRC/NAMAS/namas-press-release.html
Last Modified: Wednesday, 12-Nov-2003 15:31:46 GMT