FEATURE ARTICLES

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS, chairman of Trustees, Friends of African Nursing, discusses the difficulties encountered when implementing the Safe Surgery Saves Lives programme in Africa and the benefits that it can bring to patients in the region.

GUY HIRST, an expert in human factors training, says that further improvements in surgical results depend on professional leadership, technical refinement and the application of scientific evidence about human performance.

Point-of-care haematology is helping the accident and emergency (A&E) department at Watford General Hospital to meet turnaround targets and provide rapid and appropriate patient care.

An investigation into the care received by elderly patients, who died in hospital within 30 days of undergoing surgery, has found that only one-third received good care – prompting claims that the health service is currently failing this vulnerable group of patients. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Manchester was the setting for a meeting, hosted by Roche, to discuss the introduction of new-generation, highly sensitive troponin assays. JEANETTE MARCHANT reports on an event that also compared and contrasted German and UK practice.

Advances in transfusion medicine are contributing to more evidence-based patient care across many clinical and surgical specialties, as The Clinical Services Journal discovered at a recent symposium held at the headquarters of the Royal College of Pathologists.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has one of the highest death rates for any healthcare-associated infection, claiming around 6,000 lives in the UK alone, and can cause severe complications in surviving patients. KEITH TURNER, Cambridge Design Partnership, discusses the problems associated with current ventilation systems and looks at how humidification could be improved.

The 3M AfPP Academy, which focuses on the development of non-technical skills, was established with the aim of improving standards of patient care and safety. The latest training course, added to the portfolio, will help delegates increase their “personal power” and to influence change. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

SUSAN PEARSON investigates an award-winning medical imaging instrument that takes a new approach to implementation of the photoacoustic effect.

Dr TOM SMITH, chief executive of the British Society of Gastroenterology, discusses the campaigning priorities for the BSG in 2011.

How can you tell whether an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is due to cross contamination between patients and staff or to the contamination of a hospital’s systemic water supply? How can you protect the most vulnerable patients from infection from pathogenic organisms lurking in hospitals?

From the huge range of published information and research reports that spring to life on a regular basis on healthcare websites, KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS, technical editor of The Clinical Services Journal, highlights a few which may have particular interest for practitioners and readers struggling with the volume.

A patient safety campaign, implemented across Wales, has successfully achieved its target of saving lives and reducing harm – reporting major steps forward in infection prevention, hand hygiene compliance, safer surgery, medicines management and antibiotic prescribing. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Children can make challenging patients – they are vulnerable, prone to rapid deterioration, and often difficult to diagnose. If your job brings you into contact with sick children, some basic additional training can help, explains Dr FFION DAVIES MRCP, FRCPCH, FCEM, consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Leicester Royal Infirmary.*

Serious concerns about the provision of parenteral nutrition in UK hospitals were raised by a national enquiry, which found that poor standards of care are leading to avoidable complications. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

As rates of Caesarean section continue to rise, the numbers of mothers experiencing surgical site infection (SSI) are also set to increase, warns Claire Banks, a senior specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

A skilled endoscopy support team is essential for a high-quality, patient-centred service. Moreover, JAG visits have identified a need to improve access to relevant education. The gastrointestinal endoscopy for nurses (GIN) training programme has been implemented to address such demand.

New evidence has emerged which suggests that patients with “mini stroke” are missing out on life-saving surgery and are routinely treated as low priority cases in the NHS. Short falls in community rehabilitation services are also undermining advances in acute medicine for stroke. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Studies have shown that education, the use of positive role models, surveillance and feedback are all important factors in driving improvements in hand hygiene. However, new technologies may also have a significant role in raising compliance rates in the future. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The seventh international conference of the Hospital Infection Society recently took place in Liverpool – covering topics ranging from infection control and epidemiology, to surveillance and decontamination. High on the agenda was the subject of C. difficile. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.