FEATURE ARTICLES

Sir Derek Wanless has outlined deep concerns as well as successes in his latest review of the NHS. He warns that high levels of funding will be required over the next 20 years unless the issues of productivity and unhealthy lifestyles are addressed. The Clinical Services Journal provides an overview of his key findings.

JAMES FAIRLEY, a consultant ENT surgeon, responds to an article on Picture Archiving Communication Systems (PACS) which featured in The Clinical Services Journal (“A Revolution in radiology: diagnosis at a distance”, September 2007) with an alternative viewpoint. He gives a personal account of his experience of IT implementation and outlines his concerns.

More needs be done to improve cancer treatment and care, according to Professor MIKE RICHARDS, national cancer director. The Clinical Services Journal outlines his recommendations which will provide the foundations for the development of new cancer reform.

Gene therapy for a form of blindness, called Leber’s congenital amaurosis, is now being tested on human volunteers after proving successful in earlier animal trials. Researchers hope this will eventually lead to a breakthrough in other forms of sight conditions and even pave the way for gene therapy in more complex organs. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The UK currently lags behind the rest of Europe in terms of early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and needs to catch up. Potentially assisting will be significant breakthroughs that could make clinical analysis quicker, easier and more cost-effective. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

New guidelines have been published to improve the quality and safety of care of acutely ill patients. The Clinical Services Journal provides an overview of the recommendations.

Faced with increasing numbers of obese patients presenting for surgery, the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland has issued guidance on appropriate perioperative management for these cases. The Clinical Services Journal provides an insight into the recommendations.

A conference on prostate cancer research recently took place at the Royal Society of Medicine in association with The Prostate Cancer Charity and The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action. Some of the issues discussed included the case for screening, the risk of over treatment and the need for more clinical trials. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Complete integration of all hospital information systems is improving diagnostic decisions and patient care at the AZ Imelda hospital in Belgium. The latest cardiology solution, from Agfa, allowed cardiological patient data to be centralised and integrated into the hospital’s archiving system.

The Queen Mary’s University Hospital in Roehampton recently held an event to improve efficiency through a concept first introduced by Japanese car makers. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

GRAHAM JOHNSON, a specialist practitioner in occupational health nursing, discusses the importance of double gloving in the operating theatre in order to protect healthcare professionals, their careers and their families.

BUPA Hospitals has recently become independent of the BUPA Group, having been sold to private equity group Cinven. Pushing standards of private healthcare provision to new heights, and growth, will be the prime goals of the hospital organisation, newly named Spire Healthcare, its director of clinical services Dr JJ de Gorter tells NICHOLAS MARSHALL.

Philippe Grange, a consultant at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has firm views on the barriers to widespread adoption of innovative laparoscopic approaches, the role of robot technology and the need to address conservative training. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Surgical robots, in the past, were viewed as expensive “toys for the boys”. Now they are rapidly becoming accepted for routine procedures, while playing an important role in the development of the latest pioneering techniques. LOUISE FRAMPTON talks to Prosurgics about the adoption of the technology.

The role of DENISE DALEY, consultant respiratory physiotherapist, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, Surrey, is profiled by The Clinical Services Journal.

In the past, decontamination departments in the NHS were regarded as “Cinderella services”. To ensure compliance, a number of Trusts are now migrating processes to super centres. One of the first to open its doors was a purpose-built super centre in Chorley. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS, technical editor of The Clinical Services Journal, reviews significant items of healthcare sector news.

Bloodstream contamination in patients undergoing infusion therapy is seen as an increasing problem, but infusion filters can be used to provide effective protection. Report by PALL Medical.

An independent study published by the Improving Surgical Outcomes Group has found that improved fluid administration during and after surgery improves patient outcomes and reduces average length of stay. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

A new hand traction device has proved successful in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome that is unresponsive to conservative therapy. Report by HUMBERTO PORRATA MD, ALEJANDRO PORRATA MD and JULIAN SOSNER MD.