FEATURE ARTICLES

A recent survey showed that just 24% of healthcare staff are completely confident about the standards of medicines management in their hospital. Martin England provides an insight into how patient safety can be improved.

Parminder Kalle advises on how to navigate post market surveillance for medical devices to ensure regulatory compliance and to protect patients and staff from potential risks.

Medical robotics is entering a period of major innovation and development, and is expected to drive the future of precision surgery.

Denise Gibson, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, provides an insight into preventive washing and its contribution to reducing HCAIs.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS considers some of the potential implications for the health sector of Brexit – from regulation and staffing, to cross-border cooperation in relation to infectious diseases.

Derby Teaching Hospitals recently provided an insight into implementing GS1 standards in theatres. Barcoding scanning is helping to improve clinical effectiveness and efficiency, as well as delivering financial benefits. Louise Frampton reports.

PAUL JENKINS from the North Bristol NHS Trust provides an update of current issues and challenges relating to the decontamination of reusable medical devices.

The National Performance Advisory Group for the NHS is hosting its annual Clinical Engineering conference. CSJ provides an overview of the themes and issues that will be discussed, as part of the educational programme, as well as the innovations and solutions that will be on show.

CSJ provides an insight into the Infection Prevention 2016 conference and exhibition. High on the agenda will be strategies for preventing surgical site infection, emerging threats, and the latest guidance for infection prevention and control teams.

Work-based degrees help to develop high performing employees and have the potential to drive quality improvement in the health sector, argues Klaus Muecher.

High on the agenda at this year’s annual conference for the British Society of Gastroenterology was discussion of the UK’s bowel cancer screening programme, including opportunities for improved cancer detection.

The use of mobile technology at the bedside is increasing in hospitals, but does this present a new infection prevention risk and how should this be effectively managed?

Various reports have examined how the NHS could re-evaluate traditional staffing roles to ensure sustainable delivery of health services, as well as identifying keys issues that need to be addressed.

Lord O’Neill has set out the final recommendations of his review, which are aimed at delivering action on what has been described as the ‘biggest threat posed to mankind’ of antimicrobial resistance.

Faced with having to ensure quality, with fewer resources, the CQC plans to make more use of targeted, unannounced inspections, focusing on services where care quality has been identified as ‘poor’.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS provides an insight into a new vision and framework for nursing, midwifery and care staff, which aims to support the strategic goals of the Five Year Forward View.

The Sepsis Six care bundle has been proven to save lives. Mark Birchmore looks at how attention to the way in which it is delivered is improving patient outcomes still further.

CSJ looks at some of the exciting innovation taking place in the application of 3D printing for the medical sector.

New scientific evidence was presented to support the use of a multi-layer dressing to prevent heel pressure ulcers.

Dr John Sandham FIHEEM MIET provides an insight into technology as an enabler to improve NHS productivity and reduce costs.