FEATURE ARTICLES

In light of the call for a return to activity-based payment mechanisms, Trusts must focus on one crucial area: accurately coded data. Adrian Jones explores how correct coding will be key to maximising NHS income, ensuring proper payments under future activity-based models, and facilitating crucial reforms in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

The Central Sterilising Club’s Annual Scientific Meeting explored “risk and revolution” in endoscope reprocessing and highlighted some of the innovation taking place in the sector. Louise Frampton provides an insight into some of the key discussion points.

The Infection Prevention Society’s Annual Conference, Infection Prevention 2025, is taking place at the Brighton Centre on the 29-30 September. In this article, CSJ looks at some of the discussion themes and innovation that will be showcased at the event

In the wake of elective surgery backlogs and workforce shortages, the imperative to optimise theatre operations has never been more urgent. To overcome systemic inefficiencies, Dries Vanbiervliet argues that healthcare providers must adopt digital tools that enable real-time visibility across theatre, endoscopy, and sterile services.

At the recent Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) conference, deadly fungal infections, increasing drug-resistance, and rapidly mutating viruses were all high on the agenda. Learning lessons from the past, effective diagnostics, and ensuring preparedness will be key. Louise Frampton reports.

A physiotherapist specialising in orthopaedics, Alicia Stanton is currently Head of Service Improvement at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham. She highlights the importance of putting patients at the centre of care delivery, using their experience and knowledge to make change happen.

The Fifth Annual Operating Theatres Show 2025 took place earlier this year at the Kia Oval. Organised by the Institute for Government & Public Policy, high on the agenda was the need to ‘think day case first’, to further the recovery of elective surgery.

A new survey by the Confederation of British Surgery (CBS) has identified continuing gender bias in surgical disciplines. The feedback suggests that women face barriers that men do not. In this article, the surgical trade union comments on the latest findings and calls on the surgical community to take action.

Prof. John Sandham CEng FIHEEM provides an insight into the role of Authorising Engineer (Medical Devices) and explains why this strategic imperative will enhance patient safety and organisational resilience within NHS Trusts.

The 10-Year Health Plan calls for three important shifts in the way health and care is delivered. Technology enabled care, wearables and remote devices will need to become an integral part of the strategy. Steve Wightman offers an insight into the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Operating rooms (ORs) are among the most vital and resource-intensive areas of any hospital. They are central to surgical care and a major driver of hospital productivity.¹ Yet, despite their critical role, ORs are often hindered by inefficiencies that compromise patient outcomes, strain staff wellbeing, and reduce overall operational effectiveness.² A recent pan-European report, The Non-Value Report, sheds light on these challenges and offers a practical framework for improvement. Mikael Olsson provides an insight.

In this article, Minija Joseph and colleagues at the King’s College NHS Foundation Trust discuss the critical role of theatre nurses and anaesthetic practitioners in robot-assisted surgery.

The AfPP Robotics Symposium was recently held at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which has achieved some impressive milestones and advances in robotic surgery in recent years. Leading experts gathered at the centre to discuss the challenges and opportunities in this pioneering field. Louise Frampton reports.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS provides her first impressions of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan. She describes the Plan as ‘ambitious’ in its goals but finds that it is rather light on implementation and delivery timelines.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS looks at the latest surgical trends – from robots and artificial intelligence to 3D printing and virtual reality. She considers the steps that theatre teams need to take to ensure safe implementation of new technologies.

Brandon Medical discusses the evolution of operating table technology and highlights a step forward with the launch of Anteris Ultra.

STERIS provides an insight into how it empowers safer healthcare through education and inclusive development pathways.

The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) Annual National Conference 2025 is set to be one of the largest gatherings of perioperative professionals in the UK, taking place on 8-9 August 2025 at the University of Warwick. Following the success of last year’s event, AfPP will be returning to Warwick to bring together practitioners from every area of perioperative practice for two days of worldclass education, innovation, and networking.

Despite playing a vital role in surgery and patient care, Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) are still one of healthcare’s best-kept secrets. National ODP Day took place on Wednesday 14 May, this year, and provided an opportunity to celebrate the people behind the scenes who make surgery possible. Susan Preston, from the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP), shines a light on their vital work.

The military environment has long served as an accelerator for healthcare innovation, particularly in areas requiring rapid diagnosis. Mark Gostock provides an insight into the latest military-to-civilian technology, which could accurately rule out sepsis cases. It is hoped that this new diagnostic tool could help to reduce unnecessary hospital stays.