FEATURE ARTICLES

Healthcare providers must invest in technology to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs), urges Dr ALAN DAVIES MD MRCP, medical director for GE Healthcare, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The detection of invisible contamination in the near patient environment can help to improve standards of cleanliness by giving an indication of cleaning effectiveness and acting as a tool for training and education of healthcare staff. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) will be holding its annual meeting at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow, from 24-27 June, giving the sector an opportunity to network and to reflect on the increasingly divergent health policies in the devolved nations within the UK, and the implications for the specialty.

NICE has published draft medical technology guidance on a device designed to help health professionals when there are unexpected intubation difficulties.

Trumpf Medical Systems has entered into the field of robotics and has ambitions to integrate the technology into UK theatres. The new generation of compact robotic surgical assistants could open up new possibilities in laparoscopic surgery, while tackling staffing issues associated with emergency and out-of-hours procedures. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS provides an insight into the latest review of the NHS Constitution, in the wake of the Francis report.

SUZANNE CALLANDER reports on an automated solution that has been developed to offer real-time monitoring, tracking and reporting of compliance rates, based around the principles of WHO’s ‘5 moments for hand hygiene’.

The current model of long-term conditions management in the NHS is not sustainable. WENDY LAWRENCE, CEO, Totally Health, examines why commissioners and patients must behave differently if care pathways for the treatment of chronic disease are to improve – and why integrated, innovative technologies must form part of the solution.

Integrated health services are seen as the answer to delivering high-quality, affordable healthcare – particularly for patients with long-term conditions. But that requires some key building blocks, argues Dr ROB BEARDALL.

SUZANNE CALLANDER reports on a US-based hospital which uses point-of-care Troponin testing as standard in its emergency department to more efficiently diagnose patients with myocardial infarction allowing for treatment to begin in a more timely manner.

In October 2012, the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and Picker Institute Europe announced the findings from a study researching the views of people with MND about the choices and control when living with a life-shortening illness. Some of those affected wanted the option of assisted dying, as BORIS SEDACCA reports.

Ergonomic equipment design has an important role to play in helping ensure healthcare staff safety, and could help to reduce the instances of work-related illness due to musculo-skeletal disorders. KEN COOKSON, manual handling manager at Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, provides expert insight into safe patient handling.

The greatest challenge to global public health is from the rise of antimicrobial resistance, warns Dr BHARAT PATEL, consultant medical microbiologist, Public Health Laboratory London. The issue will be high on the agenda at the Reducing HCAIs national conference.

At the recent Healthcare Innovation Expo, the Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt called on the health service to make better use of technology to improve patient care. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

With the introduction of the EU Directive 2010/32/EU, to ensure a safer working environment for all healthcare workers, The Clinical Services Journal reports on the cost savings that the Directive could bring and finds out where support can be gained to ease the implementation process.

DRÄGER, founded in 1889, is an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS reviews the Francis report and its recommendations on improving care quality across the health service.

FANIA PAGNAMENTA MSc, MA, BHs (HONS), RGN discusses the steps taken by one Trust, in partnership with industry, to address the issues of poor durability and performance of high-quality foam mattress covers.

The ‘ECMO’ programme has been an outstanding success over recent years in treating critically ill patients with impaired heart and lung function, particularly during the swine flu outbreak of 2011. Transfusion scientist BARRY HILL talks to one specialist clinician who has been at the forefront of this development.

Pressure ulcers have been referred to as one of healthcare’s overlooked epidemics. SUZANNE CALLANDER reports on the work being done by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel to help standardise the care received by people who are considered to be at risk of pressure ulcers, or who already have such wounds.