FEATURE ARTICLES

A National Clinical Assessment Service report points to important questions stemming from analysis of performance concerns about doctors and dentists.

Challenges posed by healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) continue to be varied and considerable. The Clinical Services Journal reports on statistics and comments from the Health Protection Agency, and looks at the Department of Health’s draft code of practice for the prevention and control of HCAIs.

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

PATRICK DIGNAM, workforce designer on the National Practitioner Programme, describes how the development of a new role is set to improve efficiency within endoscopy departments.

HARRY COOK reflects on how the National Health Service has evolved and draws attention to its merits.

KATE WOODHEAD, RGN, DMS, independent operating theatre consultant, describes daily obstacles and problems facing nurses and patients.

Leading cancer treatment centres are expanding their radiotherapy facilities with equipment from Varian Medical Systems.

CSJ reports on the work of Smart Cells, whose activity with stem cell collection and storage offers hope for the treatment of a range of diseases and disorders.

NICK BROOKER, marketing manager of the SKF Actuation & Motion Control Division, takes a look at the way in which developments in industrial automation are helping health professionals to revolutionise patient care.

Protecting staff from false allegations, making significant savings in medical device provision, and optimising the use of paediatric telemedicine were among subjects examined at Completing the Picture – Looking to the Future, a recently held symposium sponsored by an education grant from Welch Allyn. NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

PHILIP VIAN, UK managing director, WinScribe, examines the benefits of digital dictation.

The Health Facilities Management Association’s ninth annual conference, held recently at Brighton, had important pointers for clinical staff as well as non-clinical personnel. NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

ANDY HOPKIN, regulatory law expert at Browne Jacobson, explores the ramifications of a Trust court case, the health and safety obligations of NHS Trusts, and the practical steps they can take to avoid errors and litigation.

In the second section of a two-part article, JOHN BEESLEY, RGN, LLM Healthcare Law, BA (Hons), NEBOSH, examines a further range of issues relating to consent in the perioperative setting and puts forward four scenarios for consideration.

Examining the gap between infection control theory and practice will be this year’s Infection Control Nurses Association conference.

Research into an immunomodulatory approach to the treatment of tuberculosis has yielded notable results, reports SUSAN PEARSON.

A technological advance for organ transplantation is set to make a major impact, The Clinical Services Journal reports.

The continuing trend for miniaturisation in medical technology was clearly evident at the most recent ComPaMED.

An evaluation of the antimicrobial properties of sanitising product TECare by Dr A TAYLOR MB CHB, et al. – Leesbrook Surgery, Lees, Oldham.

The management of long-term medical conditions presents significant challenges which must be addressed as a matter of urgency, delegates at a recent conference were told. JASON RAYFIELD reports.