FEATURE ARTICLES

There is a need to remove endoscope reprocessing from treatment areas and to ensure that it is performed in dedicated facilities by specialist staff, decontamination experts argue.

A patient safety campaign adopted across Wales has delivered significant results – through improved leadership, communication, patient monitoring and early warning of patient deterioration. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

A cross-party committee of MPs claims that a focus on national targets for MRSA and C. difficile has meant that attention has been diverted away from other deadly infections, which are now increasing.

An exhibition at the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons recently examined the question: “Are we on the edge of a robot revolution in medicine?” LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Thousands of people took part in “Patient Safety First Week” which took place 21-27 September. The event aimed to encourage the exchange of ideas and the introduction of new steps to create measurable reductions in avoidable harm. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology recently hosted a seminar on “Bionic Health”, providing an insight into the future of implantable devices aimed at transforming healthcare. BORIS SEDACCA BEng (Hons) MIET reports.

The Care Quality Commission is calling for improved cooperation between care homes and hospitals to reduce transmission of HCAIs. Only half of care homes are currently following guidance on managing infections, while hospitals are failing to share information on infected patients who are then discharged into their care. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The latest research into the “winter vomiting bug”, norovirus, shows that hospitals may need to rethink their current approaches to infection prevention. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

There are tough times ahead, but flexibility and effective leadership will be key to progressing the nursing profession in a changing financial climate, according to Chief Nursing Officer, Dame Christine Beasley. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The Care Quality Commission says that progress is being achieved to reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease, but points out that the UK has one of the highest rates of prevalence in Europe. Increased efforts are required to improve the management of risk factors as well as the cost-effectiveness of treatment.

Following the publication of NICE guidance on the treatment of breast cancer, earlier this year, recent reports suggest that there are still wide variations in access to treatments across the UK. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

VAL O’BRIEN, national chairman, Institute of Decontamination Sciences, provides an overview of the topical issues that will be addressed at this year’s IDSc conference.

VAL O’BRIEN, national chairman, Institute of Decontamination Sciences, provides an overview of the topical issues that will be addressed at this year’s IDSc conference.

New guidance on decontamination is expected to have a major impact on the way theatres and sterile service departments deal with contaminated instruments, while the Department of Health appears to be supporting a more risk-based approach. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

A recent point-of-care testing trial investigated acute chest pain in the emergency environment and assessed its ability to increase effectiveness in clinical and cost terms.

Following a radiological review of total hip replacements in Gloucestershire, over a 15-month period, researchers were able to provide an insight into the quality of surgery, whether national guidelines were being followed, dislocation rates, as well as opportunities to deliver cost savings. STEFANO VERARDI, RACHEL MACKINNON and MICHAEL TREDGETT provide an overview of their findings.

AfPP Annual Congress offered an insight into strategies aimed at recognising and responding to error-prone situations – including the “three buckets model” explained by Dr Jane Carthey. KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS reports.

Seventy per cent of disasters are caused by a failure in communication, yet, in the clinical setting, there is often poor awareness of the role of “human factors” in causing surgical harm. Improvement of non-technical skills in theatre must be made a priority, speakers argued at the AfPP Annual Congress. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The latest analysis of medication incidents by the National Patient Safety Agency shows that some improvements have been achieved, but further lessons must be learned.

The latest analysis of medication incidents by the National Patient Safety Agency shows that some improvements have been achieved, but further lessons must be learned.