FEATURE ARTICLES

Taking place at the University of York and virtually from 8-11 September, the AfPP Annual Conference 2022 is set to be one of the largest gatherings of theatre practitioners in the professional (and social) calendar. With a packed programme of education, networking, workshops and entertainment, it is guaranteed to inform, challenge and inspire.

A serious safety incident involving the use of a contaminated surgical instrument has prompted an investigation by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB). Among the recommendations of this must-read report is the need for national reporting of safety incidents involving sterile services. Louise Frampton reports.

Up to 13 million nurses will be needed to fill the global shortage of nurses, while 4.7 million new nurses will have to be educated and employed just to replace those who retire. Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the challenges ahead and the importance of investing in education and training

Technology is rapidly changing within the operating theatre, so what are some of the promising innovations set to transform surgery in the future? The Clinical Services Journal explores some of the key developments that could have a significant impact.

As theatre teams strive to tackle the backlog, cognitive, social and personal resource skills will have a vital role to play in helping to deliver safe, efficient care, in challenging circumstances. Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the importance of understanding human factors and the need to develop key skills to support effective teamworking.

Could we see a wholesale move to single-use scopes, in the future, or is the cost to the environment just too great? Could there be a middle ground, and how can we achieve a balance between protecting patients and protecting the planet? These were just some of the questions debated by experts at a recent online event, hosted by Pentax Medical. Louise Frampton reports.

The European Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 (EU MDR) has put more emphasis on Post-Market Clinical Follow-up (PMCF), to ensure patient safety. Celeste Maksim outlines some key steps to help manufacturers map out a smooth compliance journey and avoid a dangerous shortage of devices hitting the market.

The pandemic has increased our focus and understanding of the importance of mitigating the risk of airborne transmission of infections in the hospital environment. With patient safety at the forefront, Maidstone Hospital recently trialled a UV-C ventilation system to deliver a significant reduction in CFUs.

Neill Simmons highlights the key changes being implemented by the new National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021 and shares his views on how microfibre cleaning and advances in automated disinfection technology can play a crucial role in protecting patients, staff and visitors across the NHS Acute Estate and other localised medical environments

Dr. John Sandham, the EBME chairman, shares the details of the 2022 EBME Expo, being held in the Coventry Building Society Arena, on the 28-29 June 2022.

New proposals have been published by the GMC to help tackle toxic working cultures and to promote safer, more compassionate environments. Doctors will be expected to report bullying and discrimination, as well as working towards making healthcare more supportive, inclusive and fair.

Cecile Paya provides an insight into the demands of reprocessing transoesophageal echocardiogram probes. She argues that automated solutions should be adopted to ensure both the safety of the probe and the safety of the patient

The healthcare environment continues to present a risk of infection transmission, so what can we do to protect patients in a post-pandemic era? The Central Sterilising Club’s 60th anniversary annual scientific meeting showcased the latest evidence for best practice, highlighting some of the potential threats that need to be addressed.

The Central Sterilising Club’s 60th anniversary annual scientific meeting finally took place in Stratford Upon Avon, having been delayed by the pandemic. It hosted some lively discussion around the key challenges in decontamination – from difficulties in reprocessing TOE probes and contaminated neonatal incubators, to whether hospitals can function safely without Authorised Engineers (decontamination). Louise Frampton reports.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the recently published ‘Delivery Plan’ for tackling the backlog of elective care, in the wake of the pandemic. People who are waiting for care are becoming increasingly desperate to receive their surgery, and many are suffering and in pain. So, how can we tackle the backlog and ‘build back better’, while caring for a workforce that is still suffering the after-effects of COVID-19?

Andreia Messias, product manager, consumables, at STERIS, considers the question: should rising costs drive facilities to re-evaluate their cleaning chemistries?

Point of care ultrasound is bringing ultrasound to increasing numbers of hospital departments, practitioners and patients, with advancing technology making ultrasound more accessible than ever before, and an essential tool throughout the hospital. What is clear, is that ultrasound is changing, but can decontamination processes keep pace with these developments? Richard Fish discusses the challenges and solutions.

Following some recently awarded Care Quality Commission (CQC) ‘Outstanding’ ratings at its locations, HCA UK’s divisional vice president of quality, Judi Ingram, reflects on the approach taken to inspection readiness and how this has been embedded and achieved in HCA UK facilities.

Donna McHenry and David Watson, at NHS Lanarkshire, offer an insight into how digital clinical observations can assist the early recognition of patient deterioration.

Delivering patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) is a major new change to outpatient services laid out in NHS England’s Operational Planning Guidance and is almost certainly going to be a major component of the Elective Recovery Plan. Tom Whicher provides an insight.