FEATURE ARTICLES

West Suffolk Hospital has recently implemented an order communications system for users of its diagnostic services. The system is intended to make requesting easier for GPs, to improve pathology laboratory efficiency, reduce the number of duplicate tests, and comply with national policies requiring tracking to ensure that results are actually read and acted upon.

HADLEIGH STOLLAR, programme manager at the NHS Technology Adoption Centre, explains more about two of the latest How to Why to Guides, which focus on innovative new technology developments that offer greater efficiencies and an improved patient experience in the areas of breast and bladder cancer.

Speaking at the 2010 Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention Conference, Dr Tamara Everington, clinical leader for VTE prevention at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, explained how Salisbury District Hospital put commissioning and CQUIN goals into practice to drive QIPP improvements, using a simple, evidence-based policy.

Dr KEITH A MEADOWS BA (Hons) PhD, discusses the importance of reporting outcomes from the perspective of the patient, and explains how PROMS can provide a source of information to facilitate more effective decision-making to improve the quality of healthcare.

In the wake of the introduction of the European Working Time Directive, the clinical handover has become even more crucial to the continuity of care of patients. The Clinical Services Journal reports on how one Trust’s solution to the problem has already made a major impact in this area.

A damning new report from the Healthcare Ombudsman does not make comfortable reading for those working in the health service, but is essential reading to ensure that lessons are learnt. KATE WOODHEAD RGN, DMS reports.

Given the expected shortage in skilled healthcare workers, new models will have to be found that can help deliver services in ways that are less human resource intensive and that make better use of geographically dispersed expertise.

SALLY HOLT, paediatric sister at Benenden Hospital, discusses the importance of paediatric care provision in the UK and why there is a need to improve children’s health services nationally.

Ultrasound needle guidance improves both the safety and efficacy of nerve blocks and local anaesthesia delivery. The Clinical Services Journal looks at the varied roles of hand-carried ultrasound in pain management, from post-operative recovery to chronic pain and palliative care.

When Yeovil District Hospital needed to upgrade its Sterile Services Department (SSD), to increase accessibility from the operating theatres and day surgeries, an innovative solution to the hospital’s problems of space constraints was provided.

The Clinical Services Journal reports on the findings of the National Heart Failure Audit 2010, which provides comparative data to help improve the quality of service and outcomes for heart failure patients.

The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) will be hosting its Annual Meeting at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham from 14-17 March 2011. The event is expected to attract over 2,500 delegates from around the world, including research scientists, clinicians, nurses, patients and students.

Point-of-care testing is finding increased application across the breadth of modern medicine. Recently, research has demonstrated its value in the assessment of chest pain in the accident and emergency department.

Trusts can save vast amounts of money without impacting frontline services and without the need for mass job cuts, argues CHRIS LLOYD, vice president of healthcare at Simpler Consultancy. He looks at how inefficiencies can be identified throughout the NHS.

With input from clinicians and analysts, the Dr Foster Hospital Guide 2010 focused on three important areas – stroke, orthopaedics and urology. The often contentious issue of safety has also been tackled, to report on improvements since the last report and to highlight areas where problems remain. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease has not disappeared. The much feared disease, which is invariably fatal, has not produced an epidemic thus far, but it has not gone away. KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS reports.

A scheme aimed at speeding up the introduction of innovation in the health service is striving to overcome barriers to adoption of new products. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

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.