FEATURE ARTICLES

Following the publication of the HSSIB report, Tracey Pavier-Grant describes how an effective risk management strategy for the disposal of swabs can help prevent Never Events and provide surgical teams with peace of mind.

The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) investigated the risk of unintentional ‘retained’ swabs after invasive procedures, having examined the case of a patient who had two swabs left in her chest, following serious heart surgery.

The Westminster Health Forum recently brought together stakeholders, clinical leaders and policymakers to discuss the implementation of Martha’s Rule, which aims to provide patients, families, carers and staff with 24/7 access to a rapid review, from a separate critical care team, when concerns arise about a patient’s deteriorating condition. Louise Frampton reports.

In the complex and ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the emphasis on patient and healthcare worker safety has become increasingly paramount. September’s World Patient Safety Day serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of these issues. To mark this occasion, we delve into the work of the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) Patient Safety Group.

Dr. Richard Sherry, a Clinical Psychologist, proposes a change of approach in surgical care that considers psychological human factors in efforts to reduce surgical site infection and the risk of complications. He calls for a change in how human behaviour is considered – with emotional milieu being viewed as significant as the interaction of microbes.

Bridging the divide between IT and EBME will be vital for the digital future of the NHS, along with raising awareness of the profession to the next generation. These and other challenges were among the hot topics discussed at a thought leadership workshop at EBME Expo. Louise Frampton reports.

Kate Woodhead highlights the surgical safety challenges experienced in African regions and shares her insights from a recent visit to Rwanda by Friends of African Nursing.

Tork manufacturer, Essity, is dedicated to providing sustainable hygiene products and services in all its markets. Sales Manager Liam Mynes explains how the company is going that extra mile to achieve sustainable outcomes in healthcare.

With the expansion of virtual wards, what steps are being put in place to mitigate the clinical safety risks of spreading assets across multiple teams and organisations, and into the community? Steven Bruce explores the role of a hybrid asset tracking model to support efficient and safe care.

Jennifer Gregory argues that investment in single-use endoscopes could help tackle issues around meeting demand, in the wake of the backlog, as well as addressing concerns over infection transmission. She tackles potential concerns around sustainability and highlights some recycling pilot projects that are due to begin this year.

A new study highlights the need for sex- and gender-informed strategies that recognise the unique health challenges faced by females and males.

Head of Project Management at InnoScot Health, Gillian Henderson, discusses the vital need for fresh NHS workforce-led ideas at a challenging time. She argues that we have never had a greater need to embed an innovation mindset as early as possible, in future members of the NHS workforce, and looks at how clinical innovation can be supported.

The Stokes Centre of Urology team at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust is breaking records and breaking new ground in prostate cancer surgery. Wissam Abou-Chedid, a Consultant Surgeon at the Trust, and a Prostate Cancer UK Clinical Champion, speaks to CSJ about the potential impact these advances could have if adopted across the UK.

The foundation of efficient and safe working in operating theatres is effective team working. Dora Bilan highlights the need to support each other to achieve success – focusing on staff wellbeing and mental health.

The Institute for Government & Public Policy’s Operating Theatres Show is gaining a reputation as an inspirational and empowering event offering solutions to the critical problems currently facing operating theatres and NHS staff. CSJ provides an insight into the key issues that will be high on the agenda.

At NPAG 2024, human factors in operating theatres were high on the agenda. ‘Incivility can be contagious’ and ‘rudeness can prove deadly’ were among the take-home messages of the day. Louise Frampton reports.

While digital advancements are exciting and hold much promise, they also pose significant issues, especially concerning bias in AI models. Tackling these challenges will require comprehensive strategies for detecting and mitigating bias, alongside robust regulatory frameworks, says Tim Bubb.

Kate Woodhead highlights the need for every health board to enable their teams – and, in particular, their operating theatre teams – to examine their practice so they can reduce their carbon footprint. She discusses the recommendations of The Green Surgery Report and considers some of the potential barriers.

The Infection Prevention Society’s Annual Conference, Infection Prevention 2024, is taking place at the ICC, Birmingham from the 23 -25 September. This educational event features an innovative scientific programme led by international and national experts in infection prevention.

Action is needed to tackle the persistence of blame cultures and fear of speaking up in the NHS. This is according to the latest report by Patient Safety Learning. So, how can we strive to achieve ‘a culture of safety’, where staff feel able to speak up and organisations learn from mistakes without apportioning blame?