FEATURE ARTICLES

At the NHS Confederation annual conference staffing issues, culture change and the need for honesty were high on the agenda. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports

Taking place at Manchester Central (Exhibition and Conference Centre), The British Society of Gastroenterology annual meeting (16-19 June 2014) will tackle a wide range of topical issues in gastroenterology – from improving the availability of 24/7 Acute Upper GI Bleeding (AUGIB) services, to the promotion of better alcohol services.

Various studies are taking place around the UK, looking at how key technologies could help to improve adenoma detection rates, as well as the diagnosis of other conditions such as coeliac disease. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Professor Dr PETER HEEG and Dr JÜRGEN GAUER report on the findings of a study to evaluate a novel approach to minimise the risk of infectious disease transmission, through high-level disinfection.

Reducing HCAIs: Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance will focus on the serious threat posed by growing resistance to antibiotic treatments.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS is a past chairman of NATN. She offers her personal memories of the Association for Perioperative Practice in its 50th year and takes an opportunity to congratulate all those who have held posts – both paid and voluntary – and who have helped to ensure that the Association continues to move forward.

RICHARD JONES discusses why it is important to look at the lessons that can be learned from the recent changes occurring within the NHS and to understand how these learnings can be implemented.

JULIE QUICK and SUSAN HALL discuss the contribution of non-medically qualified surgical assistants in theatres – highlighting the importance of education, training and support, to strengthen the position of these practitioners

In the coming years, effective procurement, technology utilisation and medical device management will be crucial in ensuring safe, efficient care in challenging, cost-constrained times.

Magnification endoscopy is the future of gastroenterology, according to one of the UK’s consultant surgeons and interventional endoscopists, Mr AMYN HAJI. The King’s College Hospital doctor is one of a small group of specialists in the UK who are trained to use this increasingly popular method of diagnosis.

A recent report from the Royal College of Surgeons has stated that NHS patients may be missing out on ground-breaking new procedures due to a failure to adopt new surgical techniques quickly into everyday clinical practice. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

The World Health Organization recommendations in the Antimicrobial resistance: global report on surveillance 2014 include ‘enhancing infection prevention and control’ and ‘fostering innovation and research and development of new tools’.

It is estimated that around one million people in the UK, aged over 65, are suffering from malnutrition. Despite the publication of many reports, policies and reviews on this subject, and reorganisation of the health service to improve patient care, it would appear that there is still work to do to ensure better nutritional care for patients.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS provides an insight into the latest findings of a task force, which was established to tackle the problem of ‘never events’ in surgery.

The 6th annual Reducing HCAIs conference and exhibition – Improving processes, improving outcomes – provided an insight into improvement initiatives aimed at reducing healthcare-associated infections.

Following the Francis Inquiry there has been an increased focus on delivering openness and on being ‘candid’ when mistakes are made. A recent conference discussed the importance of supporting and encouraging frontline staff to come forward with concerns and provided an insight into the statutory duty of candour.

The newly competitive nature of the NHS makes it even more important for Trusts to consider the reputational risks that could result from adverse healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) rates. SUZANNE CALLANDER reports.

RICHARD DEED, innovation unit manager at TRUSTECH, a leading NHS innovation service, shares the stages that successful innovators follow to ensure their ideas have the best opportunity to make their mark on the healthcare sector.

A recently published study has highlighted the economic and clinical benefits of incorporating a point-of-care nucleic acid amplification test for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae into genitourinary medicine clinics.1

A recent discussion on the quality of hospital water raised the question: is the presence of pathogens being underestimated. Moreover, are current control methods ‘killing’ bacteria or simply putting them to ‘sleep’? If the latter proves to be the case, what are the risks to patient safety? SUSAN PEARSON reports.