Our skilled technicians will repair your instruments to 'as new' condition, or we'll replace them for the cost of a repair*
Award-Winning Manufacturer of Surgical Instruments
Surgical Holdings is a family run business, established in 1988. Based in Southend-on-Sea, we are an award-winning British surgical instrument manufacturer and repairer.
At Surgical Holdings we care immensely about the work that we do, never forgetting that the instruments we create and repair are responsible for saving lives. We insist on controlling the quality of every item we manufacture, from the materials used to the rigorous procedures we apply to testing. Our range of supporting products are serviced and repaired in-house, ensuring we are always able to exceed our customers' expectations.
We partner with customers, using our expertise as highly skilled technicians to provide an unrivalled service, using only the highest quality steels to British and International Standards, to unique patterns and designs. We also manufacture Sterile Kirschner Wires and repair specialised products such as Laparoscopic instruments and Rigid Endoscopes.
Our focus on quality means you can enjoy long term value for money
Surgical Instrument Repair
Our surgical instrument repair service is the SMART choice - Book, manage and monitor repairs online with our Surgifix system. 18-month warranty as standard on instrument repairs.
Surgical Instrument Refurbishment
'Before and After' - At Surgical Holdings, we are able to offer a complete refurbishment service at a fraction of the price of new instrumentation. We focus on restoring surface finish and functionality.
Rigid Endoscope Repair Service
Our Rigid and Semi Rigid Scope Repair Workshop, offers repair on a wide range of brands. We carry out minor repair works, such as lens replacement and major repair works including complete refibre, in house.
Orthopaedic Power Tool Repair
Orthopaedic power tool repair at Surgical Holdings include replacement of bearings, electric board revision, speed button, revision of battery contacts and lubrication and sealing.
Surgical Instrument Trays
At Surgical Holdings, we have compiled some surgical tray lists, which from our experience include the most commonly used surgical instruments.
Hip Surgery Instrument Manufacture
We manufacture a comprehensive range of reusable orthopaedic instrumentation for use in hip surgery procedures.
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Surgical Holdings is the British surgical instrument manufacturer and repairer; focused on sustainable solutions, providing social value and educational development.
We provide solutions for our customers, to suit their needs; our market-leading surgical instrument tray refurbishment service respects the need to carefully manage the hospital budget, refurbishing instruments to an 'as new' standard, whilst also addressing potential protein adhesion risk, reworking the surface of the devices, removing scratches, crevices and passivating.
Our high-end surgical instrument repair and refurbishment services cover surgical instruments, laparoscopic instruments, electrosurgery, air tools, power tools and rigid endoscope repair are carried out in our purpose-built rigid scope repair workshop.
Our business remit has developed significantly in recent years and we now distribute other specialised ranges including Hermann laparoscopic instruments, Bissinger Bipolar Instruments and the Symmetry Surgical range including the world-renowned Bookwalter Retractor and Thomas Codman Surgical Instrumentation, including heritage brands Malis and Rhoton.
Surgical Holdings have been awarded a place on the NHS Supply Chain framework agreement for reusable surgical instruments, laparoscopic instruments and orthopaedic implants. We are also on the North of England NHS Commercial Procurement Collaborative framework agreement for the repair of surgical instruments.
We are committed to improving Labour Standards throughout our Supply Chain through our Level 3 accredited Labour Standards Assurance System.
Our Mission:
To sustainably manufacture, service and distribute medical devices for the UK healthcare sectors and export partners worldwide. Expertly working to our specialisms, whilst promoting education and continual development of our employees. We maintain our dedication to our safety, unique skills, products and services
Our Vision:
To be recognised by our stakeholders as the most passionate, authentic and knowledgeable Surgical Instrument Manufacturer and Service provider in the UK.
Our Values:
Find out more about us in our company brochures
Quality Time
An insight into how our processes and focus on quality ensure your patients get the surgical instruments they deserve, whilst your department gets value for money.
Safety in Numbers
Each one of our close-knit team is treated as a valued family member. Our team members stay with us for many years, learning new skills and building lasting careers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many different types of surgical instrument are there?
There are over 10,000 different types of instruments, ranging from simple single piece instruments to more complex retractors, all for different surgical uses, often coming in different lengths and shapes i.e. Straight and curved.
What are the different classes of surgical instrument?
There are several classes of surgical instrument available from Surgical Holdings, from many well-known brands. The most common are as follows:
Artery forceps - Spencer Wells, Crile, Halstead, Heiss, Cairns, Adsons, Dunhill, Moynihan, Lawson Tait, Roberts, Fraser Kelly, Rochester Pean.
Dissecting forceps - Waugh, Adsons, Dunhill, Gillies, Jeans, Mcindoe, Treves, Jackson Burrows.
Tissue forceps - Allis, Littlewood, Babcock, Duval, Lanes, Rutherford Morrison, Shaw.
Clamps - Blalock, Dieffenbach, Debakey, Satinsky, Derra, Cooley.
Retractors - Travers, West, Goligher, Miles, Pozzi, Gelpi, Collin, Berkeley, Gossett's, Jol, Balfour, Norfolk & Norwich, Irwin, Kocher, Weitlander, Volkmann.
Scissors - Littler, Kilner, Mayo, Mayo Harrington, Metzenbaum, Boyd, Heath, Strabismus, Fergussons, Thomas Strabismus.
Needle holders - Mayo-Hegar, Derf, Halsey, Macphail's, Mathieu, Rochester Mayo, Kilner, Bruce Clarkes, Crile Wood, Lawrence, Norton Morgan.
Towel clips - Spring, Jones, Shardles, Backhaus, Moynihan, Ball and Socket.
Dissectors and probes - Macdonald, Brodie, Watson Cheyne, Jobson Horne.
What are surgical instruments made from?
Most surgical instruments are manufactured from stainless steel. Previously before stainless Steel, they would have been manufactured from Carbon steel and plated. This was not ideal as the plating could flake off.
How are surgical Instruments named?
The nomenclature of surgical instruments are defined normally by the inventor of the instrument, followed by where the instrument is used and finally the type. For instance in the case of the Spencer Wells Artery Forcep, Spencer wells is the original surgeon that invented the Spencer wells back in the late 1800s, Artery is where the device is used and finally, it is determined to be a 'forcep'.
What is the most effective way to reprocess surgical instruments?
You should always follow manufacturers guidance in the first instance, along with any local protocol such as HTM 01-01.
Is there such thing as a 'special' surgical steel for instruments?
No, there are stainless steels which are more suitable for use as surgical
instruments, mostly defined as the 420 range of stainless steel (BS 5194).
Why are my surgical instruments going rusty?
Surgical instruments are made from stainless steel which contains iron and carbon. If left wet, they will rust or start to corrode. However, there are multiple potential issues that could also cause this such as blood/bioburden, chemistries used for washing, quality of sterilising steam, quality of washing water, passivation of the instrument.
Are there any potential issues with laser marking surgical instruments?
Yes! Proceed with extreme caution. Laser marking can expose free iron and if this free iron is not oxidised before the instruments are washed, they will show signs of rust. Take advice from the ABHI or your instrument company.
What is the difference between bipolar and monopolar instruments?
Both are quite different. With monopolar the current flows through the patient, utilising a patient return pad. This can mean risks of burns is higher with monopolar. With bipolar, less energy is used and the circuit is created only by touching the instruments. Bipolar is generally used in more delicate procedures. Both instrument types are connected to a power source.
Get in touch with our highly skilled team to discuss your surgical instrument requirements