How do hospitals reduce risks to patients?
Hospitals follow guidance given by national expert bodies on CJD. This includes guidance on decontamination measures for medical/surgical equipment. Much effort has gone into ensuring that the decontamination of all surgical instruments is to the highest standards. They take additional measures when they are treating people who are suspected to have CJD or are in ‘at risk’ groups – for example they can use disposable equipment or destroy it after use on an ‘at risk’ patient.