FEATURE ARTICLES

A new biomedical training facility at the Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology, in Dudley, aims to tackle key STEM skills gaps and help futureproof the biomedical engineering sector

Penny Pinnock discusses the current financial challenges that healthcare providers are facing and the key strategies that could support investment in the technologies required to help the NHS recover in the wake of the pandemic.

Dr. Catherine Jones explores how AI technology can support clinicians and radiologists and improve patient outcomes, the current barriers to adoption, and why she hopes the technology will become a staple in the hospitals of the future.

Anton Emmanuel, from the Bowel Interest Group, provides practical steps for improving patient adherence to prescribed treatment and highlights the impact of training and tailored support.

A recent investigation has highlighted areas for improvement, to ensure the safety of patients undergoing surgery, when NHS and independent hospitals share patient care.

The achievements of medical technology in the past twenty years strengthens the case for making it one of the biggest solutions to the NHS’s post pandemic recovery, argues Barbara Harpham in the new Medical Technology Group manifesto.

The report aims to identify policy levers and drivers that are needed to improve CVD care in the UK.

Trevor Sterling, chair of the Major Trauma Group, discusses health outcome inequalities and the role of unconscious bias in major trauma recovery

Experts recently joined the Connect Health Change Webinar panel to discuss the challenges and opportunities of unwarranted variation in tackling waiting lists.

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. Against a background of ongoing diagnostic research, Charlotte Duncan provides an overview and introduces the latest in point-of-care technology.

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare and The Royal College of Surgeons of England recently hosted a conference to highlight the first-ever ‘Green Surgery Challenge’.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS warns that inequality is standing in the way of the health service’s ability to recruit and retain staff. She calls for cultural change and financial investment to drive improvement.

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of robust IP&C strategies for ICUs.

Torbay Hospital has implemented point-of-care testing for MRSA to decrease turnaround times and increase bed occupancy

Yvonne Spencer describes how a ‘whole hospital approach’ is the cornerstone to infection prevention – involving collaboration between hard & soft FM, infection prevention & control teams, service users, clinicians and other key stakeholders.

Debbie McKinney explores innovative approaches to infection prevention in endoscopy services, and the knock-on impacts for cost and efficiency savings.

Carolyne Horner discusses the diversity of point-of-care tests (POCTs) available for the rapid detection of infection and the key issues relevant to their uptake.

Surface transmission has been identified as an important route of pathogen spread, especially within the healthcare environment. Jade Pallett discusses viral and bacterial transmission and looks at the key issues and evidence.

There is considerable evidence that contaminated surfaces and the untreated hands of healthcare professionals contribute to the spread of nosocomial pathogens within the hospital setting.

Speaking at IP2021, Julie Storr called for a ‘hard reset’ in infection prevention and control, to ensure compassionate care is not overlooked, amidst efforts to eliminate risk from infectious diseases.