FEATURE ARTICLES

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death globally; more people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause. So, how can the NHS do more to improve outcomes and tackle the risk factors?

There are now around 200 procedures identified as being suitable for day case surgery. However there is still variation between Trusts in terms of day case rates & studies suggest that more patients could be sent home on the same day as their surgery

The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) along with a coalition of patient safety focused organisations are calling for more to be done to prevent surgical fires.

In 2019, mobile medical unit provider EMS Healthcare announced the launch of the UK’s largest mobile decontamination unit, in partnership with Cantel (UK).

With COVID-19 lockdown measures beginning to ease, Gemma Rower discusses how hospitals can maintain a safe operating theatre during the global pandemic – protecting the perioperative team and patients.

Investment in the latest radiology technologies is important to support pioneering treatments, while ageing equipment also exposes patients to higher levels of radiation.

As the steam steriliser is a critical part of decontamination, verification of the machine’s ability to penetrate steam into a load is vital to ensure patient safety.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the key principles of enhanced recovery, the current progress in adoption and how the principles are now evolving

As decontamination units and SSDs restart services in the post-COVID era, decontamination consultant, Trevor Garcia, looks at some of the issues impacting on the selection of detergents and disinfectants for use in washer-disinfectors (WDs).

The NHS faces a slow road to recovery and the Government must manage expectations to retain public confidence, the NHS Confederation has warned. A new report outlines key recommendations to help healthcare services recover.

IoT technology could modernise operating theatres, from isolated workspaces to being part of an active collaborative support system.

Pressure ulcers present a huge burden for the NHS and it has led to growing concerns about the incidence, how their management could be affected and what this will mean for patient outcomes. So, how can the health service address this?

Hanna Bielecka argues that chlorine dioxide, at low concentrations, dosed into filtered rinse water, could provide an effective solution to ensure water quality in decontamination processes.

Isolation facilities tackling the new coronavirus are now turning to portable handwashing facilities. The tactical use of portable sinks can help increase infection prevention efforts.

David Woods BSc (Hons) provides an insight into the various test methods available for washer disinfectors to ensure the quality of reprocessing activities.

Differential diagnosis of reflux disease is key to directing appropriate treatment, including selecting the right therapies and making the appropriate lifestyle changes.

The NHS has faced a shortage of personal protective equipment, prompting requests for advice on contingency reprocessing measures, to ensure availability of single-use PPE items during the COVID-19 healthcare crisis.

How can hospitals ensure they protect patients from the potential risks of infection?

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is a Department of Health Scan4Safety demonstrator site for the adoption of GS1 and PEPPOL standards.

The European Commission has postponed the medical devices regulations to prioritise the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.