TOP INDUSTRY NEWS

Cardiology solutions upgrade Cardiology solutions upgrade
Agfa HealthCare has been selected by Royal Brompton and Harefield Trust to provide PACS, RIS and cardiology solutions to its entire Trust. The integrated IT solutions will enable a free flow of data between the hospitals, even though the systems will work entirely independently of each other.

Other News...

Courses in endoscope reprocessing endorsed by IDSc
The Institute for Decontamination Sciences (IDSc) has recently endorsed the programme of City & Guilds Accredited training courses run by Lancer Academy for decontamination of endoscopes and instruments.
Innovation award
Medipex, the NHS Innovation Hub for the Yorkshire and Humber region, has being crowned “Innovation Champion 2008” in an awards ceremony at Leeds.
Research grant for theatre nurses
Mölnlycke Health Care and the European Operating Room Nurses Association (EORNA) are raising the research level within perioperative nursing by offering a grant of €30,000.
Drive to improve diagnosis of coeliac disease
Nearly £9.5 million has been invested by the European Commission into a new pan- European partnership which will design an advanced diagnostic tool for the detection and control of a potentially life-threatening auto-immune condition, coeliac disease, which is claimed to be the most underdiagnosed common chronic condition in the UK. It is estimated that at least 1 in 100 people in the UK suffer from the condition, leading to serious health problems such as osteoporosis, gastro-intestinal cancer and increased risk of other autoimmune diseases.
Greater NHS support planned for armed forces
Plans are being made for highly skilled NHS specialists to be able to deploy on short operational assignments to places such as Iraq and Afghanistan to provide specialist care to the armed forces.
Trial investigates solution to cut infection rates
Doctors at Barts and The London NHS Trust are continuing to pioneer ways of combating MRSA by testing a new wound change mat that could cut infection rates if successful.

COVER STORY

Major breakthrough in blood management Major breakthrough in blood management
Sometimes, it is what you leave in that counts Donor blood is a scarce and very precious resource. Department of Health circulars on the use of blood have prompted Trusts across the UK to implement programmes of blood management, particularly in the field of elective orthopaedic surgery.

PRODUCT NEWS

Bio-bins offer ‘greener’ waste disposal
G&N MEDICAL, a supplier of clinical waste containers, has been appointed exclusive UK distributor for the Econix Bio-Bin range.
Universal blood pressure cuffs
Blood pressure monitoring has become more streamlined with the launch of a new range of FlexiPort Blood Pressure Cuffs, which connect to virtually any manual or electronic blood pressure device. This universal, costeffective solution has been developed by WELCH ALLYN.
Clipper blade ideal for trauma
3M has launched a new clipper blade specially designed for pre-operative removal of heavy body hair.
Extensive decontamination range
DAWMED offers an extensive range of decontamination equipment for use in endoscopy and ENT departments, including the Wassenburg WD440 pass-through machine and the Model 300 dry storage cabinet.
Theatre of the future
Sheffield Children’s Hospital has installed a “theatre of the future”, KARL STORZ OR1.
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FEATURE ARTICLE

Call to reduce extravasation risk
The European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) is urging the adoption of new guidelines across Europe to improve safety for patients receiving chemotherapy. A call for action was issued to an audience of oncology nurses at a recent conference in Switzerland. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

PRODUCT ARTICLE

Safer hypodermic syringes
Safety syringes help protect staff from the health risks of needlestick injuries, and the Trust from damages claims. Some safety syringes are safer than others, however. Over 70% of nurses surveyed said they preferred syringes where hands and fingers stay behind the needle area when activating the safety mechanism, and where the syringe is permanently disabled after the safety mechanism is activated. Over 60% required the safety feature to be integral to the design of the syringe, the needle should withdraw into the barrel, and the mechanism be operated single-handedly.