RECENT NEWS

A multi-centre, observational clinical study, the “B-Ahead U.K. Trial”, is to use technology in development from BrainScope Company to aid in the assessment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion in A&E.

A recent Royal College of Physicians audit has identified that 100,000 people in the UK are at risk from an undiagnosed heart condition, familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH).

The National Audit Office report, The procurement of consumables by NHS acute and Foundation Trusts, was issued in February. The main findings of the report point to the fact that NHS hospitals often pay more than they need to when buying basic supplies.

Bio Products Laboratory has formally transferred to a limited company, Bio Products Laboratory Limited, which is, ultimately, wholly owned by the Department of Health.

Scientists at Cancer Research UK have discovered that a single gene – known as FOXA1 – controls the oestrogen-fuelled growth of breast cancer cells.

Scientists at Imperial College London, in partnership with clinicians at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, have installed a highresolution solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer in St Mary’s Hospital.

According to research undertaken by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), cancer patients have a five-fold increased risk of developing listeria than people with other underlying conditions – and those with cancers of the blood have the greatest risk.

The second round of the national clinical audit of occupational health (OH) care on depression detection and management of staff on long-term sickness absence in England demonstrates that higher quality care is now being delivered.

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs four district general hospitals with emergency departments in Greater Manchester, currently has 16 consultant vacancies in emergency medicine.

The National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS) has dealt with its highest number of referrals in a six month period, as NHS organisations prepare for revalidation.

An industry Study Day at Girton College, Cambridge, staged by Tutela Medical, revealed that moves are being made towards the common assessment of temperature monitoring, audits, quality management systems and both documents and controls.

Sandra James, chair of RCN Council, has been awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List. Sandra has been an RCN activist for over 30 years and has been given the honour for 40 years of dedication to nursing in the UK and Guernsey.

National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) has won its funding bid, albeit with a reduced grant, to carry on its undertaking to review patient care in hospitals.

This year sees the 30th annual Tissue Viability Annual Conference which will be a celebration of its success in multidisciplinary collaboration and the role it has played in forging developments in tissue viability as an emerging field in research and clinical practice.

Siân James MP, Chair of the Melanoma Taskforce, a group of skin cancer experts, has welcomed the Government’s new cancer reform strategy, “Improved Outcomes:

Many patients who have received a lung transplant will go on to develop bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). University of Michigan researchers have developed a new diagnostic tool to predict BOS, allowing doctors to intervene earlier and, ultimately, to provide life-saving treatments.

A more accurate way to identify pre-cancerous cells in the lining of the oesophagus is being developed by biomedical engineers at Duke University and has already been successfully tested on patients during a clinical trial.

The number of coroner autopsies carried out every year in England and Wales could be reduced by over 60% – or 80,000 dissections – if a system of post-mortem examinations used in Scotland was adopted, say the authors of a paper published in the January issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Reflecting the growing trend in living organ donation, with nearly one in three kidney transplants now being made possible through a living donor, the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has appointed Lisa Burnapp to the newly created role of lead nurse – Living Donation.

It has been announced that Earl Howe, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Quality, will the closing keynote speaker at this year’s NICE Annual Conference that takes place on 10-11 May 2011 at the ICC in Birmingham.