FEATURE ARTICLES

Surgical teams continue to face challenges in the fight to reduce SSIs. The annual conference on Quality Improvement for Surgical Teams recently discussed the risks and latest strategies for prevention.

A detailed look at the key changes within the Department of Health’s recently updated decontamination guidance for surgical instruments and endoscopes.

Professionals from across the sphere of healthcare will assemble in London to hear from experts on various aspects of infection prevention and control, from rapid diagnostics to surgical site infection.

The Clinical Services Journal reports on some of the highlights from the annual European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Acute Cardiovascular Care event.

Suzanne Callander reports from the Sepsis Unplugged event, where healthcare professionals and patient groups came together to discuss sepsis – its recognition and management and its longer-term effects.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS reviews a perioperative assessment tool, aimed at reducing surgical site infection, which was recently highlighted at the Infection Prevention Society and Quality Improvement for Surgical Teams annual conferences.

The Clinical Services Journal recently attended the launch of two new integrated theatres at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, featuring the latest 3D laparoscopic technology.

Failure to detect or act to prevent deterioration in patients is an area of harm that occurs in many acute clinical settings. Suzanne Callander looks at medical device developments designed to help to identify deterioration

Michael Clancy looks at how innovation in hospital bed technology can help to meet the needs of a transforming patient population and clinical workforce to promote enhanced care and drive operational efficiency.

The IDSc annual conference takes place this year from 28 to 30 November at The Hilton Hotel in Blackpool

A new decontamination facilities unit opened at Southmead Hospital Bristol, in October this year. The Clinical Services Journal provides an insight into the state-of-the-art project.

The Liverpool Care Pathway was widely criticised for providing a ‘one-size fits-all’ approach to end of life care, but are we closer to ensuring more personalised, compassionate and dignified care for patients at the end of their lives? Louise Frampton reports

Following the publication of its final audit, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists made a number of recommendations to tackle the risk posed by Group B Strep and has highlighted the need for improved guidelines.

Professor Paul Collinson, consultant chemical pathologist and professor of cardiovascular biomarkers, St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, provides an insight into the use of point of care testing to improve the diagnostic pathway for patients presenting with acute chest pain.

Heart failure is often poorly diagnosed and public awareness is low. A recent inquiry has examined how care could be improved and lives transformed.

Nearly 1,000 babies die each year, or are severely disabled, because of potentially avoidable harm in labour. Suzanne Callander looks at the key messages from a series of reports.

CSJ reports on a recent presentation at AfPP which considered whether harnessing digital health could have the potential to enhance the ‘human touch’. Dr Fotis called for nurses to champion digital technology to help improve care for patients.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the current workforce challenges and argues that developing new roles within clinical care could offer many potential benefits for patients and society.

David Cook and Dr John Sandham provide an insight into improving healthcare technology management to deliver transformation. They argue that the application of technology can be used to facilitate new ways of working and enhance patient safety.

Suzanne Callander reports on a new framework which advises a whole system approach to ensure that deterioration in children is recognised and responded to quickly and appropriately in hospitals.