FEATURE ARTICLES

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the productivity challenges facing the NHS, as it faces strike action, a decline in goodwill, staff burnout and a mounting backlog. The problem is far from simple and will need to be addressed by tackling multiple factors.

In this article, Allison Seabourne, Medstor Sales Director, praises the NHS PPN 06/20 for its positive impact throughout the supply chain.

Bernard Ross reports on a survey of experts and patients which sought views on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of tissue viability care. The survey also looked at the causes of non-adherence to treatments, the role of telemedicine and innovation, the emotional impact of living with unhealed leg venous ulcers, and the current state of wound care resources

Amanda Caley provides an insight into the evidence to support the use of technology that could improve detection rates in colposcopy – including the results of an independent study, carried out at East Lancashire Hospitals. The technology uncovered 21 high grade Cervical Interepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) in patients that would have otherwise been missed.

Paul Lindsell, managing director, MindMetre Research looks at the latest evidence on the safety of delivery devices used for the administration of insulin. He highlights some concerning findings around insulin pooling and misdosage incidents, following the use of passive devices

Growing pressure on NHS services could be eased if the ‘new mindset and new skillset’ of health coaching was more widely adopted across patient care. This was the prevalent point debated by a panel of esteemed healthcare professionals during Connect Health’s latest Change event, ‘Can health coaching reduce primary care pressure and improve patient outcomes?

Tim Sandle discusses how human factors approaches can assist with improving performance by lowering variability in the decontamination of medical devices – thereby reducing rates of contamination and improving patient safety

The Central Sterilisation Club’s Annual Scientific Meeting brought together leading experts to discuss how the decontamination sector can improve patient safety, increase efficiency, and meet the demand for additional capacity. But what can we learn from low resource settings and what can low resource settings learn from us? The Kelsey Lecture discussed key infection challenges and learning opportunities, across both settings.

As operating theatres are responsible for three to six times more emissions than the rest of the hospital, tackling the issue must be made a top priority. Kate Woodhead RGN DMS looks at how perioperative teams can help to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute towards a greener future.

Mr. Yusuf Gray, from the University Hospitals Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trust, talks about Royal Derby Hospital’s robust point of care testing in its virus management programme, and how implementing year-round RSV testing last year resulted in the discovery of an unexpected summer surge in cases.

A new ‘Green Healthcare Leadership Programme’ is driving change across the independent healthcare sector and beyond, by helping nurses to build the skills and confidence they need to deliver sustainable transformation. Louise Frampton reports.

In this article, Joshua Correia interviews different generations of healthcare professionals to gain an insight into the experiences of racism and discrimination in the NHS. He considers: how far have we come in tackling the issues and what support is available today?

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses advanced nursing practice and the possibilities around future regulation, in light of proposals by the NMC.

Andreia Messias, international marketing manager at STERIS, provides an insight into ultrasonic cleaning and how to select the right sonic solution to ensure the optimum results.

Marie Loizides, associate director of performance analytics at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, explains how the North East London Musculoskeletal (MSK) Alliance has improved the quality of referrals and significantly slashed waiting times.

Approximately 30% of all the world’s data volume is now being generated by the healthcare industry. So, how can digital technologies advance connected care, improve patient outcomes, and increase efficiency in healthcare? Stephen Russell provides an insight.

Although blood culture is arguably one of the most common and important diagnostic tests in the proper management of infectious diseases, it is frequently overlooked or underestimated. Yet blood cultures provide essential information for patient management. Failing to optimise their use, in particular through appropriate collection, processing and analysis, represents a missed opportunity for clinicians and ultimately for patients, warns Dr. Yoann Personne.

Rob Kinnersley discusses the benefits of leveraging technology to accurately and efficiently track vital hospital equipment in healthcare environments.

As one of the largest gatherings of perioperative professionals in the UK, the AfPP Annual Conference is essential for anyone working in the perioperative field. CSJ provides an overview of this year’s programme and the many reasons to attend.

It is important for everyone that clinical entrepreneurs are able to succeed and bring new innovations to market. Angie Reynolds, head of Birmingham Research Park, discusses how this innovation can be supported.