FEATURE ARTICLES

An important study, involving the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, in the UK, and two other hospitals in Europe, has shed new light on how operating theatres can increase staff safety, improve theatre efficiency and reduce clinical waste.

Anaesthetists are making progress in reducing their impact on the environment. Dr. Paul Southall, an Elected Council Member of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Environmental Advisor to the College, provides an insight into how the specialty is striving to ensure the NHS meets its Net Zero ambitions.

A new strategy is being published to radically cut the number of single-use medical devices in the health service. The Design for Life programme aims to reduce waste and achieve an NHS-wide move to sustainable alternatives.

Daniel Garrett discusses the progress achieved over 80 years of development in haemostat solutions. He provides an in-depth review of oxidised cellulose and gelatin sponge haemostats.

As the NHS faces considerable financial issues, Alison Arnold, provides an insight into where valuable money could be saved at hospital sites across the UK, by rethinking procurement strategies.

Dawn Stott highlights the findings from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, practitioner surveys, and focus groups, which provide an insight into current knowledge and awareness around the role of airway devices in infection risk. In this article, she discusses the potential for patient harm and how this can be mitigated.

St George’s University Hospitals Trust evaluated an intervention designed to reduce the incidence of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated patients. The analysis showed a 66% reduction in VAP, highlighting the potential for substantial cost savings and improved patient outcomes, through the implementation of preventative medical devices.

The Association for Perioperative Practice is committed to helping perioperative practitioners to develop their skills, as well as improving patient care and safety. As we approach the end of 2024, it is a time for reflection, and this year has been a particularly important year for the AfPP – as it has celebrated its 60th Anniversary.

In this article, Helen Peat and James Cottam highlight a crucial need for fast and efficient diagnostic tests to accurately differentiate between respiratory illnesses. Point of care (POC) PCR testing could play a central role in enabling healthcare providers to respond quickly to unpredictable surges in respiratory cases, aiding infection control and contributing to better patient outcomes.

In this article, the Association of British HealthTech Industries’ Jonathan Evans explores the immense potential of HealthTech to not only drive sustainability and economic growth, but also to address pressing healthcare challenges through innovation and collaboration.

Getinge’s new President for the UK and Ireland, Amy Rothwell, speaks to CSJ about the exciting developments taking place in the UK to support the healthcare sector with education and innovation, with the aim of helping healthcare professionals to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.

Following concerns over infections arising from the use of ultrasound probes, there has been an increased focus on disinfection methods. A study, by the University of New South Wales, has investigated the efficacy of UVC high-level disinfection in reducing contamination.

An investigation has revealed that a culture of fear and discrimination is preventing temporary staff from raising concerns over safety. So how can we strive to address a more open culture of learning, where staff feel safe to speak up?

Women with long term conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome are often left feeling abandoned and alone. Our healthcare system could do so much more to recognise – and therefore mitigate – their suffering. Dr. Anne Connolly discusses the latest advances in diagnosis and the need for better guidance.

Walter Danker & Gerard Llanos discuss the burden of surgical bleeding, the importance of haemostatic agents and how management of surgical bleeding can be improved.

Dr. Jonathan Byrne, UK Lead of the UK’s Valve for Life programme and a Consultant Cardiologist at King’s College Hospital, warns that heart disease is frequently underestimated and misdiagnosed in women. In this article, he highlights the key issues and the gender disparities in UK heart care services.

More than 39 million deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections are predicted between now and 2050, according to the latest analysis. This month, World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week seeks to raise awareness of this existential threat to humankind. So, what action must be taken on a national and global level?

There is a need for targeted, fast and reliable diagnostics at the point of patient care to identify curable precancerous disease stages that enable timely treatment and better patient outcomes for patients with gastric cancer. Dr. Cinzia Papadia, a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Barts Health NHS Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, discusses the use of a first-line case selection tool for gastric cancer risk.

Peter Søgaard considers how digital technology could be harnessed to reduce admissions and improve rehabilitation, with the aim of providing improved patient care and reduced pressures on the acute sector.

Gloves are commonly over-used in healthcare settings, and an incorrect choice of gloves can result in important consequences, such as increased risk of cross-transmission, exposure of healthcare providers to increased risk, or increased cost and waste. Jon Otter highlights some key considerations and best practice to ensure optimum safety.