• Source: 1 NEWS There have been five breaches of standards after surgical instruments were not properly sterilised in five operations at Dunedin Hospital over a period of almost a year, it's been revealed. Source: istock.com The five standards breaches, which took place between March 31, 2020 and January 31, 2021, include three involving surgical cement; one involving hair; and one involving water in a connector found on or within the instruments or instrument tray once a procedure had started in theatre, Southern DHB chief executive Chris Fleming said today in a statement. He said in the first four cases the material and/or instruments were removed and replaced before being used on the patient.