RECENT NEWS

MEP Liz Lynne, has warned that proposed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) legislation must be amended or lives will be at risk – a view supported by the recently published Crozier report.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on the use of the “clot-busting” drug alteplase for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. NICE has recommended alteplase within the NHS as long as it is used in accordance with the safety rules already set out in the drug’s licence.

Between February 2006 and January 2007, there were 24,382 reports of patients being mismatched with their care – more than 2,900 of these related to wristbands.

In a bid to reduce patient waiting times in the West Kent area, a new treatment centre has opened within the grounds of Maidstone Hospital – providing extra capacity for day case procedures and chemotherapy. Officially opened by the previous Health Minister, Andy Burnham (now Chief Secretary to the Treasury), the Mid Kent Treatment Centre is privately run on behalf of the NHS by the Partnership Health Group (PHG).

In a survey of 7000 Londoners, 60% said improvement was needed in waiting times to see consultants, cleanliness in hospitals, waiting in A&E and for routine operations. Twenty-seven percent said they were dissatisfied with the running of the NHS compared to 18% nationally. To address these concerns, a report by a top London surgeon has been published which proposes a network of “polyclinics” throughout the capital.

The Medical Defence Union (MDU), which advises members on criminal matters which might arise from their clinical duties, warned that hospital doctors may face more investigations into their conduct when the Corporate Manslaughter Act comes into effect on 6 April 2008.

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has published his annual report on the state of public health, which calls for action in five key areas. This includes: improving levels of hand hygiene, tackling organ shortages for transplantation, reducing the risk of radiation overdoses during cancer treatment, research into 'intrapartum-related deaths', and increasing the number of women in the most senior positions in medicine.

GPs are still prescribing antibiotics for up to 80% of cases of sore throat, otitis media, upper respiratory tract infections, and sinusitis, despite the fact that official guidance warns against this practice, according to an analysis of the world's largest primary care database of consultations and prescriptions, published in a supplement to the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. This practice is hindering efforts to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance.

ClearCount’s patented SmartSponge System, based on radio frequency identification (RFID), has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The system is claimed to be the world’s first RFID system that detects and counts surgical sponges and towels during surgical procedures.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on the use of the ‘clot-busting’ drug alteplase for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. NICE has recommended alteplase within the NHS as long as it is used in accordance with the safety rules already set out in the drug’s licence.

In a bid to reduce patient waiting times in the West Kent area, a new treatment centre has opened within the grounds of Maidstone Hospital - providing extra capacity for day case procedures and chemotherapy. Officially opened by the previous Health Minister, Andy Burnham (now Chief Secretary to the Treasury), the centre is privately run on behalf of the NHS by the Partnership Health Group (PHG).

People who are ill and have psychiatric disorders are not treated as effectively by doctors compared to those who have no mental health problems, according to new analysis. Dr Alex Mitchell, a consultant psychiatrist, and Dr Darren Malone, a specialist registrar in psychiatry, who work at the Department of Liaison Psychiatry at Leicester General Hospital, reviewed a number of studies focusing on preventative and physical care of patients with and without mental illness.

Between February 2006 and January 2007, there were 24, 382 reports of patients being mismatched with their care - more than 2,900 of these related to wristbands. To combat this problem, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has issued new advice highlighting the need to standardise the information on wristbands and their design, as well as the processes used to produce and check them.

MEP, Liz Lynne, has warned that proposed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) legislation must be amended or lives will be at risk – a view supported by the recently published Crozier report.

Research by the Soil Association reveals that a serious health threat already present in the Netherlands and other European countries, could spread to the UK. A new strain of MRSA has developed amongst intensively farmed animal on the continent, which has already transferred to farmers and their families in the Netherlands. Some 40% of Dutch pigs and 50% of pig farmers have been found to carry farm-animal MRSA.

Latest figures for MRSA show there was a 6.4% fall in the number of cases reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in the last quarter, from January to March 2007, while the figure has fallen by 10%, over the course of the year. Meanwhile, there was a 2% rise in reported cases of C. difficile in patients aged 65 and over in England, in the first quarter of 2007, compared with the same period last year. This is 22% higher than the previous quarter.

New research is being conducted to find the best type of urethral catheter for reducing urinary tract infections in hospital patients. The clinical trial will be conducted across eight hospitals - comparing antibiotic and antiseptic impregnated urethral catheters.

The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) will be launching the 1st Festival of Surgery in Primary Care, which will run concurrently with its Annual Congress and Exhibition, held on Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th October at the Harrogate International Conference Centre.

Vernacare, which exports infection control products, has set up a South African operation, in Johannesburg.

NHS Direct is part of a successful bid to take part in a telecare system that will help Newham residents with long term conditions (LTCs), such as diabetes and coronary heart disease, to live independent, healthy lives. The programme is aimed at reducing complications and sudden deterioration that could result in patients being admitted to hospital.