FEATURE ARTICLES

LOUISE FRAMPTON talks to Sue Ward, president of the Medical Women’s Federation, about the “feminisation” of the medical profession, the issues that this raises for workforce planning, and the barriers that need to be addressed.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS, technical editor of The Clinical Services Journal, discusses the evidence for best practice when preparing patients for surgery.

An independent watchdog has published a report measuring the success of Payment by Results. The reform was introduced by the Government with the aim of improving efficiency in the NHS. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Magnetic stimulation is the subject of pioneering investigations in the areas of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, COPD, depression, pain relief and a wide variety of other applications in neurology, psychology and rehabilitation. The technology is advancing fast and new clinical uses are on the horizon. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The use of disposable curtains is one of the key infection prevention measures adopted by a major Trust in London, reports The Clinical Services Journal.

The importance of clinicians working ever more closely with suppliers of medical equipment and modular-constructed operating theatre environments on ways technological advances can be introduced is underlined by Bill Al-Khatib, managing director of Maquet UK. NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

The way fatalities are investigated will change after the 6 April, and this will have ramifications for all those involved. LOUISE FRAMPTON looks at what happens when a hospital becomes a “crime scene”.

A Doppler monitoring technique pioneered at the University of Leicester is virtually eliminating the risk of post-operative embolism following carotid endarterectomy. Now work is underway to eliminate the need for monitoring in the first place. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS defines clear paths to be taken if patient safety is to be further improved and fears of those undergoing treatment allayed.

Recent research has examined whether or not a lubricant, designed to prevent instrument seizure, presents an unacceptable risk to clean room standards. The findings are reported by MARK STORR from B. Braun Aesculap.

Gender-specific cancers are on the increase, bringing a range of related medical conditions. Dr HENRY IRVING, consultant radiologist and clinical director of radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, explains one of the lesser known side-effects and what this means for urologists.

The use of cryotherapy to freeze and destroy cancerous tumours is becoming more widely adopted but has encountered significant barriers in terms of funding and recognition from NICE. Some clinicians argue that UK patients are being disadvantaged. LOUISE FRAMPTON looks at how this procedure is advancing.

Management of acute post-operative pain, issues relating to inter-hospital patient transfer, and paediatric emergencies were among topics studied at a conference recently held in London by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI). NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) recently held a conference at Westminster which included the latest scientific opinion on minimising secondary brain injury. LOUISE FRAMPTON provides an overview.

Research continues to find an effective method to eliminate the risk of prion contamination on reusable surgical instruments. To date, there is no consensus on the way forward. The Clinical Services Journal looks at the latest contributions to the debate and some new developments.

Successes achieved in the development and running of a new cardiothoracic centre in Essex are numerous. NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

Increased pressure on endoscopy services has prompted pilot initiatives to evaluate the feasibility of training non-traditional individuals to undertake flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS). ANGELA GARDINER PhD, senior lecturer and programme lead for gastroenterology at the University of Hull, reports on the pilot findings and outlines a case for training of endoscopic practitioners.

The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) Annual Scientific Meeting will take place 10-13 March 2008 at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. The Clinical Services Journal provides an insight into some of the highlights.

KEN BATE, a Jehovah’s Witness and Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC) member, talks to The Clinical Services Journal about the challenges that religious beliefs pose for healthcare professionals.

The Government has published some surprising findings on the risk factors that lead to variations in rates of hospital acquired MRSA. The link between high bed occupancy and infection rates has been weakened, but there are still significant regional differences and areas that cause concern. The Clinical Services Journal reports.