FEATURE ARTICLES

The drive for the development and spread of innovation in the health service has put the issue of regulation for new techniques and technologies under the spotlight.

A recent report from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death has found that only half of high-risk surgical patients received good care in UK hospitals. The Clinical Services Journal looks at the report and highlights the steps needed to address the problems identified.

As the Health and Safety Executive prepares for the implementation of the EU Sharps Directive, The Clinical Services Journal, speaks to GRAHAM JOHNSON RSCPHN (OH), about the legal implications for Trusts and healthcare employees.

The latest research from UCLH highlights the environment as a potential source of microorganisms and emphasises the importance of hand hygiene when leaving the patient zone and after touching the near-patient environment. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The NHS could learn many valuable lessons from the latest advances in the transfusion support of massive haemorrhage within the military arena. Biomedical scientist, BARRY HILL reports.

NICE has now issued full guidance on selective internal radiation therapy for non-resectable colorectal metastases in the liver, which should lead to greater NHS patient access to this life-extending therapy. SUZANNE CALLANDER reports.

At a healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) symposium, sponsored by ASP and dedicated to looking at novel approaches to reducing HCAIs, Diane Wake, executive director of nursing and operations/director of infection prevention and control at The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, spoke about the Trust’s HCAI improvement journey.SUZANNE CALLANDER reports.

A recent NCEPOD study reviewed the organisational and clinical aspects of children’s surgery in the UK today. It concluded that clinical network improvements are required to further improve the quality of care for children undergoing surgery.

An award winning programme, which offers an innovative approach to redesign existing dialysis provision, has given dialysis patients in the Manchester region the option to perform haemodialysis independently, at home. SUZANNE CALLANDER reports.

The Clinical Services Journal reports on the results of The National Hip Fracture Database National Report 2011 which shows an improvement in the management in the care of hip fracture in acute healthcare, and the introduction of the first NICE clinical guidance on hip fracture.

The Clinical Services Journal reports from a ‘Completing the Picture’ educational event for clinical and biomedical engineers, where assessment methods for the development of health technology and risk assessment of equipment were among the subjects under discussion.

The potential risk of patient-to-patient infection, from contaminated surgical instruments, was recently discussed at the annual conference of the Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc). LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Telling staff to ‘follow the rules’ is not enough, but how should we deal with migration from policy, while ensuring a safe and just culture? At the AfPP annual congress, Mark Emerton argued that we must learn from rule breaking and understand why violations occur. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Can better healing environments result not only in happier patients but also improved clinical outcomes? ANDREW BRISTER highlights the latest research taking place at a new hospital research centre in Eindhoven that could have profound implications for healthcare providers.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS discusses the importance of adhering to appropriate dress code standards and outlines current best practice.

The Clinical Services Journal reports on the achievements and challenges that faced healthcare teams taking part in the Shine programme, which set the task of finding new ways to deliver services that reduce costs while improving quality.

SUZANNE CALLANDER attended a Critical Care Study Day, ‘Putting QIPP into Critical Care,’ organised by the Norfolk, Suffolk & Cambridgeshire Critical Care Network , whose purpose is to ensure equity of access and care for critically ill patients across the three counties.

According to the recent 2010 annual Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) Report, transfusion-associated circulatory overload or ‘TACO’ is rapidly becoming a major cause of patient morbidity and mortality. Transfusion scientist, BARRY HILL, examines the background behind the condition.

Many healthcare workers continue to accept sharps injuries as an ‘inevitable’ part of their job and fail to attend mandatory training, so how can infection control teams begin to influence behaviour change?

At the annual Infection Prevention Society (IPS) conference, held in Bournemouth, a variety of key issues were discussed – including the need to tailor infection prevention strategies to target specific patient groups, such as children and neonates. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.