FEATURE ARTICLES

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.

Taking place at the ACC in Liverpool, from the 28-30 September 2015, Infection Prevention 2015 will provide an insight into the latest infection prevention research and innovation.

A report by Lord Carter of Coles says that hospitals could save billions of pounds by better use of staff, medicines, supplies and more efficient processes.

The 2nd Digestive Disorders Federation meeting recently took place at ExCeL, London, providing an opportunity for professionals from across the UK, Europe and the globe, to engage in world leading clinical education and take stock of the latest scientific research in the field.

The Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has rolled out a standardisation programme to improve the procurement and management of medical devices, including blood pressure monitoring equipment.

The EBME Seminar also hosted an exhibition of a range of solutions and innovations, from leading suppliers – from the latest infusion devices and patient monitoring technologies, to testing equipment and healthcare technology management solutions.

KEITH CHANTLER provides an insight into the latest innovations that are currently being used in clinical settings, which have been rolled out across the UK with the support of a leading NHS innovation service, Trustech.

DR JOHN SANDHAM FIHEEM MIET discusses the importance of effective management of healthcare technology and the key issues that must be addressed.

The electro-biomedical engineering (EBME) sector is tasked with moving away from focusing on ‘maintenance’ towards having a much greater contribution to delivering safe, productive and cost-effective care. The challenge ahead will be to ensure better procurement, improved utilisation of equipment and smarter use of technology to support new models of care. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The endoscope decontamination unit at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has recently implemented changes which have delivered annual savings of £56,000. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

SUZANNE CALLANDER reports on the introduction of a device that aims to ensure that rigid endoscopes used in minimally invasive surgical procedures are of good enough quality to ensure patient safety and reduce delays in surgery.

Up to 80% of diabetes-related amputations in England each year are preventable, and Diabetes UK is warning that inadequate foot checks are part of the reason that so many amputations happen unnecessarily.

Medical technology guidance,1 published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), looks at a device that claims to reduce variability of diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The Clinical Services Journal reports on the guidance findings.

The second tri-annual Digestive Disorders Federation (DDF 2015) meeting takes place from 22-25 June at London’s Excel centre. Discussion themes range from an update on bowel cancer screening, driving improvement in liver transplantation and understanding eating disorders – to nutrition in the context of cancer treatment and IBD guidelines. DR CATHRYN EDWARDS, DDF 2015 programme committee chair, provides an overview of the event highlights.

At the recent Nuffield Trust’s Health Policy Summit, Professor ANDREW MORRIS spoke about the impact of big data on the future of healthcare and the potential for information technology to help shape future healthcare delivery.

Six winners of a Department of Health funded competition, as part of the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), are set to receive a share of over £2 million to help develop cutting-edge technology solutions to help kidney patients.

Medtech Innovation Briefings have recently been introduced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to support NHS and commissioners considering using new medical devices and medical technologies. SUZANNE CALLANDER reports on some of the latest briefings.

The NHS faces unprecedented demand from patients and technology is seen as a key enabler to reduce inefficiencies and support patient safety improvements. But is enough being done to engage nurses?