FEATURE ARTICLES

Healthcare watchdog, the Healthcare Commission, recently called for further improvements in NHS diagnostic services, following a national review that highlighted shortfalls in the area. In the same month, the Commission also urged a step up in efforts to improve the prescribing and dispensing of medicines.

A look at a new system developed to assist healthcare professionals involved in caring for patients who require vascular access devices.

Following the publication of one of the largest patient and carer surveys in the UK, two major European mental health organisations have joined forces in a call for action over the growing evidence that people with mental illness are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).

New legislation to regulate the management of human organs was introduced recently. CSJ examines the background behind this development and in particular its impact on clinicians.

A round up of how the HPA is taking an active role in research and developments in the strive to keep healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) in check.

The battle against healthcare-acquired infections continues with a need for high level leadership and support, the Infection Control Nurses Association Conference, held recently in Brighton, was told. NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

Following on from the success of last year’s event, the annual Congress from the Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc) promises a full programme of events with experts from around the globe.

The performance management process is about more than keeping employees’ records up to date. DEBBIE LEE, director of Healthcare Standards International, explains how making sure it is right can deliver a more effective working environment for everyone.

The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) 42nd Annual Congress, held at Harrogate in October, underlined a variety of pressures currently impacting on those working in the operating theatre environment. LESLEY ADAIR and NICHOLAS MARSHALL report.

The UK’s leading patient advocate, HARRY CAYTON, has condemned the use of demeaning language in the NHS arguing that some language used shifts blame to patients.

The management of risk is at the heart of health and safety law. In this article, JOHN BEESLEY explores the duty of both employer and employee within perioperative care to ensure reasonable measures are being taken to promote patient safety and welfare of staff.

ComPaMED 2006, an international trade fair for components, parts and raw materials for medical manufacturing, will provide insights into a variety of new developments.

At MEDICA 2006, the whole spectrum of medical innovation will be to the fore. WILHELM NIEDERÖKER, managing director of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH looks ahead to the event in Düsseldorf, the 38th World Forum for Medicine encompassing the International Trade Fair and Congress (15-18 November).

Connecting medical equipment to a network can achieve advantages in areas including security, efficiency, and apparatus downtime reduction, emphasies hardware and software solutions provider Lantronix.

Today, clinical equipment must be high-performing and long-lasting. A multi-function anaesthesia delivery system has been developed to meet a set of particularly demanding needs.

Immunological laboratory tests for antibodies play an important part in the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of neuromuscular diseases, reports Dr JOHN WINER, consultant neurologist.

With UK pathology services potentially at the dawn of a new era, The Clinical Services Journal reports on a recent one-day Conventus “Modernisation Update” which provided much important information and insight.

RAM SINGH, managing director of Amity UK, examines the importance of using high quality disinfectant products, employing strict cleaning procedures, and better supporting hospital workers involved in cleaning.

A surgical instrument reprocessing service recently established by Vernon-Carus is already proving its value.

The global market for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and systems in healthcare will rise rapidly from $90 million in 2006 to $2.1 billion ten years from now. Dr PETER HARROP FIEE of IDTechEx summarises new research from the IDTechEx report RFID in Healthcare 2006-2016.