FEATURE ARTICLES

Electro-biomedical engineering departments will have a central role to play, as the reorganisation of the NHS intensifies, argued a leading a health economist at a recent EBME symposium. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

SUZANNE CALLANDER spoke to Professor Dr Konrad Reinhart, chairman of the Global Sepsis Alliance, to find out more about the first ever World Sepsis Day, which will take place on 13 September.

Chronic migraine is a debilitating disorder with few treatment options. However, a promising new therapy involving peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of the occipital nerve is set to become available at a number of hospitals throughout the UK. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

SUZANNE CALLANDER finds out how the skills of a healthcare focused consultancy can help Trusts meet the QIPP challenge and ensure they are prepared for future challenges.

TOM JORDAN and STEVE RIDDLE provide an overview of best practice for launching an antimicrobial stewardship programme.

Do you have an idea which you believe fulfils an unmet need in the healthcare environment? The Clinical Services Journal explains how these ideas could be turned into a reality.

The Department of Health has announced that it is extending the list of ‘Never Events’, which will be backed by hard-hitting financial penalties. KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS discusses the implications and highlights the importance of developing a safety culture.

The Royal College of Anaesthetists’ 2012 anniversary meeting offered much food for thought as the specialty innovates in high risk surgery and tackles controversies in quality care. ANDREW BRISTER reports.

An audit of adverse incidents has shown that the risks associated with obese patients continue to be underestimated, so how can safety be improved for this patient group? LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Taking place later this month, the Digestive Disorders Federation conference draws on the collective expertise of four leading associations and will provide a forum for discussion on key issues around prevention, management and treatment of digestive disorders.

SUZANNE CALLANDER reports on what is believed to be the world’s first biodegradable oesophageal stent, which offers an alternative to repeated balloon dilation of benign oesophageal strictures.

Thousands of people with diabetes are dying each year from causes that could be avoided, while patients in some locations are nearly four times more likely to undergo an amputation as those from other areas. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

According to a report from Pancreatic Cancer UK, outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients in the UK have not improved in 40 years, with many patients still being diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease when cure is no longer an option. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

A growing body of evidence suggests that bariatric surgery may offer an alternative and cost-effective treatment to prevent a number of obesity-related health problems, yet access for eligible patients remains variable. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

JOHN SANDHAM discusses the impact on medical devices management policy of both CQC and NHSLA regulations.

Accelerating the diffusion of innovation within the NHS will be crucial to achieving the Government’s productivity and quality goals. LOUISE FRAMPTON, speaks to the chief executive of the NHS Technology Adoption Centre, Sally Chisholm, about the barriers to adoption and efforts to overcome them.

Many nurses and midwives have misguided views that the Nursing and Midwifery Council exists to protect their roles, to protect them as professionals and as a body to represent their views. They could not be more wrong, says KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS.

A seminar entitled Dirty Little Secrets recently addressed some key challenges in the field of decontamination – from the risk of transmission of degenerative diseases, to the threat of Pseudomonas. JONATHAN BAILLIE reports.

The Clinical Services Journal reports on a new technique, developed by Mr Elrasheid Saed and colleagues, for the closed reduction of supracondylar humeral fractures in children.

There is a need for significant improvements in the hospital ward environment, staff training and the overall approach to care delivery for patients with dementia, concludes the first full report on the National Audit of Dementia.