FEATURE ARTICLES

The science of lung cancer is advancing rapidly and a recent conference held in Japan revealed the latest research findings from across the globe. Promising new therapies that could improve quality of life and survival rates were high on the agenda. But is lung cancer receiving the research funding it deserves?

Despite the Government’s announcement that training posts will be increased, a number of reports claim thatworkforce planning has been ‘neglected’ and are calling for action to ensure safe staffing levels.

The Future Hospital Programme was set up to change and improve services for patients, but what have we learned from the initiative? A new report from the Royal College of Physicians provides an insight into some of the successful models of patient care.

Surgeons and staff are routinely exposed to smoke, plume and aerosols produced by instruments used to dissect tissue and provide haemostasis. Long-term effects remain relatively unclear warns Tim Christopher, marketing manager at Single Use Surgical, however, the need still remains for a proactive approach to reduce potential exposures.

op decision makers from around the world recently came together to view the latest in medical innovation at the world’s largest medical trade fair, Medica, held in Düsseldorf, Germany. High on the agenda was the trend in digitalisation, advances in artificial medicine, and wearable technology.

Conferences such as Sepsis Unplugged are crucial if we are to save the thousands of lives that sepsis claims every year – more than breast cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer and HIV/AIDS combined. High on the agenda, this year, will be the need to focus on maternal sepsis and the challenges of diagnosis and management of sepsis in children.

Match Options director, Purity Kirigo, examines the current difficulties within the UK healthcare recruitment market and highlights how the problem of findingskilled candidates is only likely to get worse after Brexit.

Jeremy Russell, CEO of surgical robotic specialist OR Productivity,discusses the future of medical roboticsand the role the technology will have in delivering improved surgery outcomes.

A detailed look at the background to the Department of Health’s updating, in 2016, of its guidance for surgical instruments, HTM 01-01, Management and decontamination of surgical instruments (medical devices) used in acute care. As the authors, Jimmy Walker et al explain, the changes were based on evidence from DHcommissioned research to understand the epidemiology of variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease and the transmission of prion protein.

As the NHS reaches its 70th anniversary, its finances are coming under close scrutiny by health leaders. Hard-fought gains, such as waiting times and single sex wards are starting to slip back at an increasing pace, and a stark warning has been issued – without a significant increase in funding, patients will inevitably suffer…

Kate Woodhead RGN DMSdiscusses the challenges facing hospitals in the developing world, the World Health Organization’s guidance on preventing surgical site infection (SSI) and the struggles that theatres experience in trying to implement best practice.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies from 25 May 2018, and introduces a new set of rules relating to the collection, storage and processing of personal data. Martin Bonney, senior director at Epiq, discusses the reasons why healthcare organisations should prepare for the Regulation in order to remain compliant.

John Mills, marketing director EMEA capital equipment infection prevention technologies at Steris, discusses techniques used for the decontamination of flexible endoscopes.

A recent medical imaging equipment age profile report from the Association of Healthcare Technology Providers for Imaging, Radiotherapy and Care (AXREM) highlights a continuing increase in the age of the installed base of medical imaging equipment across the United Kingdom

A recent Patient Safety Alert from NHS Improvement has warned healthcare providers of the dangers and risks of patients being accidentally administered with medical air instead of oxygen – largely due to the fact that air and oxygen flowmeters can be difficult to tell apart and that, as they both have universal outlets, oxygen tubing can be attached to both.

The NIHR Research Activity League Table is published by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN). It shows the extent of research activity across all NHS Trusts in England, providing a picture of how much clinical research is happening.

Although blood transfusions are very safe, patients continue to be put at risk by errors; which were responsible for 87% of adverse incident reports last year. Dr Paula Bolton-Maggs –medical director for Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT), the UK’s national haemovigilance scheme –discusses the findings of the group’s annual report.

Tom Downes, CEO, Quail Digital, discusses how headset technology can transform crucial communications during interventional cardiovascular and minimally-invasive surgery.

World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day will be celebrated on 16 November 2017, providing a global focus on this major issue. The NHS has made significant strides in reducing the prevalence of pressure ulcers, in recent years, but can this progress be sustained?

Over 800 delegates and 100 exhibitors came together for Infection Prevention 2017. Organised by the Infection Prevention Society (IPS), the event took place at Manchester Central from 18-20 September.