FEATURE ARTICLES

Morbidity associated with obesity and ageing has been identified as a major issue for the healthcare sector. At a recent summit on innovation, senior managers from Johnson and Johnson explained how they plan to address unmet healthcare needs and rise to the challenges ahead – in the face of increasing pressure on international healthcare economies. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The Tissue Viability Society annual conference at Cymru, Llandudno, Wales (27-28 April 2009), will provide a wealth of information on developments in wound care, including the results of a major audit to assess the UK’s readiness to manage pressure ulcer prevention and new guidance on best practice.

While the NHS appears to be making progress in reducing the number of outbreaks of the bacterium, the need for continuing prudence and sound practical measures in preventing and managing C. difficile infection cases is highlighted in new guidance compiled by the Health Protection Agency for the Department of Health. JONATHAN BAILLIE reports.

Patients are rating the quality of care being provided by A&E services as extremely good, but there is room for improvement in a number of areas – including pain relief. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN, DMS provides an insight into healthcare issues currently high on the international agenda – from patient safety and infection prevention, to meeting the challenges of an ageing workforce and tackling violence in the workplace.

From this April patients undergoing hip replacements, knee replacements, groin hernia surgery and varicose vein surgery will be asked to complete a “Patient Reported Outcome Measures” questionnaire. LOUISE FRAMPTON examines the implications for healthcare organisations and the issues that this Government initiative raises

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign has developed a protocol to reduce mortality, but it is widely acknowledged that there is significant room for improvement in terms of compliance with the guidelines and their implementation. Data presented to the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, in Lisbon, suggests that clinical decision support systems could have a positive impact. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Screening for MRSA in paediatrics is not receiving the same national focus as surveillance in adults. However, Birmingham Children’s Hospital believes that rapid detection of high-risk patients is crucial and is expanding its screening programme beyond the Government’s requirements. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Failed attempts to introduce speech recognition technology in radiology departments have led to scepticism, but successful projects show that significant cost savings can be achieved, while improving patient care. The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has reported significant benefits and is now expanding the technology from the radiology department into other clinical areas. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

New data suggests that the NHS has a long way to go before compliance with the Working Times Directive is achieved. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

The first national guideline for the emergency use of oxygen in adults has been published, with the aim of simplifying oxygen delivery and better protecting acutely ill patients. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

VAL O’BRIEN who will be appointed as the new chairman of The Institute of Decontamination Sciences, at the IDSc annual conference and exhibition, explains the importance of staying abreast of the latest developments in decontamination, to address the challenges faced by sterile services.

The Clinical Services Journal examines the contribution of one of the world’s leading humanitarian assistance organisations and looks at how UK healthcare professionals are making a major difference to the lives of populations in distress across the globe.

Significant progress has been achieved in reducing rates of MRSA, but speakers at this year’s Infection Prevention Society conference warned that there is no room for complacency – figures on surgical site infections reveal only the tip of the iceberg, while infection prevention procedures when administering IV therapy, as well as anaesthesia, are not being taken seriously. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

WENDIE LOVE argues that the healthcare sector should no longer compromise when it comes to the decontamination of flexible endoscopes – even if emergency situations arise.

In the last year, there were approximately 5,470 new clinical negligence claims reported to the NHS Litigation Authority.1 Being asked for comments or information to assist a Trust to defend such a claim can be a daunting experience. ANDREW CRAGGS, partner at Hill Dickinson LLP, provides a useful background to clinical negligence claims.

A number of speakers at this year’s Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) Congress pointed out that high-risk industries have made significant advances towards cultural improvements, focusing on systems change, human factors and team building. The lessons learned can be applied to everyday medical practices, according to ALLAN GOLDMAN, the lead consultant in cardiac critical care and head of ECMO, at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

At this year’s Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) Congress, only 10% of an audience of perioperative practitioners said they believed safety was the highest priority at their Trust, while surgery was described by one speaker as being “as risky as bungee jumping”. Changing the culture of organisations will no doubt prove challenging, but efforts to improve safety are now gaining momentum LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

This year’s Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) Congress and Exhibition took place at Harrogate, last month, attracting top leaders in healthcare – including the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, as well as champions of patient safety such as entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS gives a flavour of what the event had to offer.

MARK HALL, a consultant cardiologist at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, describes his experience of using a new generation of implantable cardioverter defibrillators – reporting advantages in device safety, size and longevity.