FEATURE ARTICLES

Around 1.6 million twins are born each year worldwide, as multiple pregnancies continue to increase. However, these pregnancies carry greater risks of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Jane Hanford, explores how the evolution of high-quality ultrasound and imaging innovation, particularly Superb Micro-vascular Imaging (SMI) technology, is helping sonographers to identify potential risks early on, and allow for more effective treatment options.

The integration of AI in healthcare holds transformative potential to enhance patient care, but it also brings forward essential ethical considerations that need addressing to ensure fair and equitable deployment.1,2 Dr. Julia Mokhova and Kenza Benkirane discuss this significant topic and argue that AI should be “an assistant, but not a doctor”.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the future of the NHS and the debate around the ten-year plan. The Prime Minister has said the NHS needs ‘major surgery not just sticking plaster solutions’, but with an exhausted and demoralised workforce, will some of the proposed solutions for change be the final straw for some?

The NHS faces one of the most significant challenges in its history: tackling the elective care backlog. So, could insourcing help provide an answer? Portland Clinical explains why this strategy is increasing in popularity and how it can make a difference.

The NHS plans to stop purchasing from suppliers who do not meet or exceed its commitment to Net Zero and yet the HealthTech industry continues to face barriers and challenges to bringing sustainable medical devices to market. So, what can the NHS do to encourage innovation in sustainable HealthTech and ultimately reduce its carbon footprint?

An important study, involving the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, in the UK, and two other hospitals in Europe, has shed new light on how operating theatres can increase staff safety, improve theatre efficiency and reduce clinical waste.

Anaesthetists are making progress in reducing their impact on the environment. Dr. Paul Southall, an Elected Council Member of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Environmental Advisor to the College, provides an insight into how the specialty is striving to ensure the NHS meets its Net Zero ambitions.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS says we have a moral duty to reduce our carbon footprint. The Green Surgery Report by the Royal Colleges has set out the pathway for healthcare, but there are many ways in which we can ensure a circular economy. In this article, she discusses some of the ways this can be achieved.

A new strategy is being published to radically cut the number of single-use medical devices in the health service. The Design for Life programme aims to reduce waste and achieve an NHS-wide move to sustainable alternatives.

Daniel Garrett discusses the progress achieved over 80 years of development in haemostat solutions. He provides an in-depth review of oxidised cellulose and gelatin sponge haemostats.

As the NHS faces considerable financial issues, Alison Arnold, provides an insight into where valuable money could be saved at hospital sites across the UK, by rethinking procurement strategies.

Dawn Stott highlights the findings from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, practitioner surveys, and focus groups, which provide an insight into current knowledge and awareness around the role of airway devices in infection risk. In this article, she discusses the potential for patient harm and how this can be mitigated.

St George’s University Hospitals Trust evaluated an intervention designed to reduce the incidence of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated patients. The analysis showed a 66% reduction in VAP, highlighting the potential for substantial cost savings and improved patient outcomes, through the implementation of preventative medical devices.

The Association for Perioperative Practice is committed to helping perioperative practitioners to develop their skills, as well as improving patient care and safety. As we approach the end of 2024, it is a time for reflection, and this year has been a particularly important year for the AfPP – as it has celebrated its 60th Anniversary.

In this article, Helen Peat and James Cottam highlight a crucial need for fast and efficient diagnostic tests to accurately differentiate between respiratory illnesses. Point of care (POC) PCR testing could play a central role in enabling healthcare providers to respond quickly to unpredictable surges in respiratory cases, aiding infection control and contributing to better patient outcomes.

In this article, the Association of British HealthTech Industries’ Jonathan Evans explores the immense potential of HealthTech to not only drive sustainability and economic growth, but also to address pressing healthcare challenges through innovation and collaboration.

Getinge’s new President for the UK and Ireland, Amy Rothwell, speaks to CSJ about the exciting developments taking place in the UK to support the healthcare sector with education and innovation, with the aim of helping healthcare professionals to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.

Following concerns over infections arising from the use of ultrasound probes, there has been an increased focus on disinfection methods. A study, by the University of New South Wales, has investigated the efficacy of UVC high-level disinfection in reducing contamination.

An investigation has revealed that a culture of fear and discrimination is preventing temporary staff from raising concerns over safety. So how can we strive to address a more open culture of learning, where staff feel safe to speak up?

Women with long term conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome are often left feeling abandoned and alone. Our healthcare system could do so much more to recognise – and therefore mitigate – their suffering. Dr. Anne Connolly discusses the latest advances in diagnosis and the need for better guidance.