FEATURE ARTICLES

Kalpesh Shah outlines the issues that need to be considered when implementing a purified water system.

Nadine Bellamy-Thomas discusses the best practice approaches to minimise the risk of contamination transfer during reprocessing of medical devices, instrumentation and PPE.

John Langton, PhD, argues that AI holds huge potential in infection prevention. The technology could have a major impact on identifying patients at most risk of infections, as well as improving patient outcomes.

Tautvydas Karitonas discusses the critical challenges for healthcare sectors that arose as a result of the pandemic – from reprocessing of PPE to environmental decontamination.

At ESGE Days 2021*, Pentax Medical hosted a symposium to hear from key opinion leaders on Scientific Perspectives on Hygiene Innovation in Endoscopy. The majority of the insights shared in this article were presented during this symposium

Healthcare workers’ hands have always been at the forefront of infection prevention, but one of the most common barriers to good hand hygiene technique among healthcare professionals is skin irritation.

Howard Wilkinson discusses the role of technology in infection prevention, from autonomous robots to hand hygiene compliance monitors.

Caroline Fallon provides an insight into the risk factors for pressure injuries/ulcers, current guidance on prevention and management, as well as the importance of early detection.

Ed Ball offers an insight into the post-Brexit implications for medical device compliance.

Reports suggest that smart pumps reduce but do not eliminate drug infusion errors. So, how can the risks associated with smart pump use be effectively managed and patient safety improved?

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS provides an insight into quality improvement efforts during the pandemic and the important lessons learned.

The Health Foundation has published research on user’s views on the use of technology during the pandemic. While the responses were largely positive, not everyone was convinced that the increased use of technology represented ‘quality care’.

A new poll has found that 1 in 4 healthcare staff – equivalent to 330,000 workers – are ‘more likely’ to leave the NHS in England after a year of pandemic pressure.

Martin Usher, a member of the Major Trauma Group, argues that the need for increased access to rehabilitation services has never been more important as the NHS recovers from the impact of the pandemic.

Simon Applebaum discusses how the adoption of digital technology, specifically remote monitoring, can give teams unprecedented real-time visibility of their most at-risk patients, & outlines its role in future models of continuous & preventative care

George I’ons discusses the impact of the single use on the environment and highlights some potential solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of disposable medical devices.

Dr. Bu’ Hayee, deputy clinical director for gastroenterology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, discusses the role of AI technology in reducing variation in detection rates between endoscopists.

David Hartley supports a more critical appraisal of ventilation requirements in patient care areas, in light of the pandemic.

Maya Sushila warns that misdiagnosis of cauda equina syndrome often results from problems with communication, between clinicians and patients, and the cost of subsequent litigation to the NHS can be high.

A digital health All-Party Parliamentary Group aims to highlight the benefits that digital technologies can have when successfully implemented.