FEATURE ARTICLES

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the work of Getting it right first time (GIRFT) in tackling the issue of surgical site infection, including the findings of a new report which looks at surgical practice in orthopaedics.

Following recent discussion of The Courage of Compassion report, Kate Woodhead further considers the importance of ensuring ‘autonomy, belonging and contribution’ in order to retain & safeguard the wellbeing of those working in health and social care

The endoscopy units of both the King George’s Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in London have reduced scope repairs by over 50%, following the introduction of a new protection device

Alice Greenhalgh discusses the challenges and opportunities for medtech development in the wake of the pandemic.

Living life remotely has become almost common practice for us all during the national lockdown – but is it time for hospitals to further embrace remote technology to deal with the backlog of patients following COVID-19?

Around 2.4 million people in the UK are waiting for cancer screening, further tests or cancer treatment according to analysis by Cancer Research UK.

A new report reveals that while men surveyed waited on average 3.6 weeks for their diagnosis from their initial GP visit, women waited on average just over 20 weeks – a near-six-fold increase.

A fast scope vacuum packing system is helping Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s endoscopy services meet demand, safely and efficiently. The iM Med system is designed to prolong the aseptic storage and safe transportation of endoscopes for up to 30 day

The digitalisation of patient care records has progressed rapidly in recent years. However, patient data is not always used to its full potential.

East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust has improved safety for neonatal patients and transformed workflows, by implementing an Sp02 dashboard.

How can we mitigate the consequences of decreased surgical workload during the pandemic? Mental training and digital workflows could prove vital, as hospitals seek strategies to ensure theatre teams maintain, improve or develop their surgical skills.

Dr. Frank Bakker offers an insight in to best practice in endoscope reprocessing, in the wake of heightened concerns over the potential threat posed by COVID-19 – providing an overview of the latest evidence and guidance.

From the role of vaccinations and gut health in improving outcomes, to new insights into the link between teenage depression and mid-life heart attack, this year’s digital ESC conference highlighted the latest findings on risk factors and prevention.

Paul Bond, Patient Safety and Quality Support Officer for the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP), offers an insight into JAG accreditation and its contribution to driving improvement in patient safety and quality.

The Courage of Compassion: Supporting Nurses and Midwives to Deliver High-quality Care, a King’s Fund report, provides an emotive insight into current working conditions and the impact on staff wellbeing.

Ensuring compliance with best practice in decontamination is a top priority for healthcare providers and patient safety is paramount. However, as limited budgets for training have proven to be a challenge, areas of non-compliance can begin to emerge

A team of clinicians at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, in Aylesbury, recently cut the ribbon on a brand-new sterile services department (SSD), which was created in just four months – despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.

Medication costs are rising at a startling rate, there is further scrutiny on controlled substance use, and medication non-adherence is taking a toll on healthcare costs and patient outcomes.

Clinical decision-makers are continuously forced to make tradeoffs. This includes limiting the use of new technologies that could benefit wider patient groups, despite proven clinical efficacy.

From a new generation in smart diagnostics, to e-Triage systems and telemedicine, digitalisation is becoming a reality. Supported by advances in artificial intelligence, we are seeing a revolution in healthcare