FEATURE ARTICLES

NICOLA HALL explains exactly what the NHS eProcurement strategy means for clinicians and how the standards offer significant advantages.

Decontamination experts recently shared their insights into maximising patient care and efficiencies, through low temperature sterilisation of medical devices.

Quality Improvement for Surgical Teams (QIST) is an opportunity for health professionals to share their experiences, knowledge and best practice.

A recent study has highlighted the impact of negative pressure wound therapy on surgical site infection in C-section patients.

A preview of the topical issues to be discussed at the annual Infection Prevention conference, along with an insight into some of the key innovations being showcased at the event.

KATE WOODHEAD looks at two recent reports that focus on the increasing framework for infection prevention and control practice.

There is an urgent need to address clinical variation, reduce waste and eliminate inefficiency in the NHS.

The need to improve care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease was highlighted at the British Society of Gastroenterology’s annual congress.

A ‘crisis’ in A&E nursing, a decline in the number of district nurses and concerns over pay were among the key issues raised at the Royal College of Nursing’s annual congress.

Experts recently gathered in London to discuss the potential impact of social changes on the specialty of orthopaedics, as well as highlighting key challenges in patient safety.

Speakers at the NHS Confederation annual conference debated the challenges ahead that must be addressed to create a sustainable NHS.

When working with peracetic acid, it is important to ensure that workers are adequately protected. P . RICHARD WARBURTON provides an insight into the measures that need to be taken.

In a bid to tackle the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, a new report has outlined the action needed to stimulate drug development in the field of new antibiotic therapies.

The UK Sepsis Trust’s ‘Sepsis Unplugged’ conference recently took place at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham (21-22 May 2015). The Clinical Services Journal provides an insight into some of the highlights.

PROFESSOR GAIL TER HAAR and PROFESSOR NANDITA DESOUZA provide an insight into the use of ultrasound to treat bone cancer pain.

Despite being one of the most common medical emergencies a recent NCEPOD report has highlighted a continuing deficiency in care for patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. The report identifies the problems and suggests opportunities to improve care.

BARBARA HARPHAM, chair of the Medical Technology Group, says that the NHS is failing to adopt innovation that could improve patients’ lives.

At the recent Heart Failure 2015 conference, held in Seville, Spain, experts gathered to discuss the latest strategies and research aimed at improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. High on the agenda included the latest insights into key risk factors – including the impact of mental health.

The NHS Confederation recently hosted its annual conference in Liverpool, bringing together high profile healthcare leaders to discuss the key challenges ahead for the NHS in the delivery of safe, compassionate and sustainable healthcare in the future.

The international community is devising a new set of goals to follow the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The new targets will be known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and as you might expect, they are persuasive in their ambition and potential. KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS reports.