FEATURE ARTICLES

Dr Ron Daniels BEM, chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, provides his thoughts on the importance of standardising the national track and trigger systems across primary and secondary care to improve early detection in the deterioration of patients.

Elaine Waggott highlights the importance of reducing airborne pathogenic aerosol in the wake of COVID-19 and considers the potential infection risks in hospital facilities.

The NHS has had to adapt its practices to meet the challenges of the pandemic – the rapid change of use of clinical areas, new ways of working using video conferencing, ramping up of medical device supplies and the setting up of Nightingale hospitals

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the harrowing findings of a review by Baroness Cumberlege into the harm caused to patients and lessons that must be learnt. She highlights the important patient safety findings that the NHS must now address.

The NHS must look after its staff and ensure retention by being ‘positive, compassionate and inclusive’. The People Plan sets out the future commitments for healthcare workers, but is it enough?

The latest advances in VR technology incorporate haptic technology for a full immersive experience, offering the ability for trainees to safely improve their surgical skills.

Nicola Hall believes technology is a powerful weapon in the fight to improve patient safety and argues that inventory management technology can have a real impact. She shares her top tips on implementing a solution.

The Scan4Safety initiative for operating theatres promotes safer clinical practice. Glen Hodgson argues there is a growing need to improve transparency, traceability and access to accurate data, particularly when it comes to surgical procedures.

A new robot aims to challenge the current status quo, offering wider access to robotic surgery.

A nationwide survey shows that bullying behaviour is still commonplace in operating theatres, creating an unsafe culture in UK hospitals.

More than a decade after the WHO first launched its safe surgery checklist, compliance remains a challenge.

The global healthcare community recently came together to discuss the latest findings from the Coronavirus pandemic on COVID-19’s effect on haemoglobin and oxygen carrying capacity, as well as coagulation and thrombosis management.

Dr. Thomas Ramolla describes how operating theatre management software has delivered increased efficiency, maximised utilisation and aligned communication, at one of the largest hospitals in Germany.

Anaemia and MSSA continue to impact outcomes in patients undergoing hip and knee surgeries. A national initiative is currently underway to drive improvement through pre-screening and optimisation of patients. Louise Frampton reports.

A survey has shown that over two-thirds of operating theatres staff are concerned about the effects of surgical smoke on their health.

How will theatre infection prevention strategies need to adapt to a new era, following the pandemic? Kate Woodhead, RGN DMS, considers best practice as elective surgery resumes.

An NHS Trust has reduced cardiac arrests by more than three quarters since it went live with an early warning system. The Trust is now redesigning clinical pathways using the same solution to spot potentially fatal conditions including AKI and sepsis

Being able to streamline local healthcare and reduce unnecessary A&E and hospital admissions for frail and vulnerable patients has never been more relevant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Indira Natarajan, a consultant stroke physician, highlights the burden of VTE on stroke aftercare and offers an insight into a pilot study evaluating the use of neuromuscular electrostimulation on the hospital’s stroke unit.

Professor Steve Ryder, Chair of the Hepatitis C Coalition, is calling on those involved in the patient pathway to find the estimated 50% of people with chronic hepatitis C who are unaware, as well as those who have been tested but remain untreated.