FEATURE ARTICLES

Team work is an essential factor for improving patient safety – yet hierarchies, bullying and a culture of blame continue to hamper progress, according to speakers at this year’s Patient Safety Congress. Human factors need to be fully understood if attempts to improve safety are to succeed. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Could you imagine your surgical team as a highly disciplined race team? How do you advance your career from practitioner to chief executive? Inspiration can be gained from the latest high profile speakers at the AfPP Congress – from a leading figure in Formula One, to a Dame Commander of the British Empire, recognised for her services to nursing.

Abdominal ultrasound scanning provides a useful diagnostic test in surgical patients but immediate access is often not possible – potentially leading to delays in patient management and discharge. A single centre observational study, carried out at Queen’s Hospital, Burton-on-Trent, to assess the impact, found that bed blockages due to delays resulted in significant financial costs.

While patients must not be put at risk of developing pressure ulcers, patients must be comfortable in their hospital bed to aid recovery. The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has conducted research on patients’ perceptions of mattress comfort, with a view to ensuring satisfaction. Nurse consultant (tissue viability), FANIA PAGNAMENTA, MSC, MA, BSC (HONS), DIP N, RGN, reports on the findings.

From prevention of IV infection and surgical site infection, to tackling the threat of pandemic flu, the IPS 2009 conference is set to discuss the latest challenges faced by healthcare professionals. The Clinical Services Journal provides an insight into the topical issues that will be explored at the event.

Infection prevention strategies have focused on improving hand washing and deep cleaning – but how can we reduce the risk of cross-contamination from surfaces with high contact frequency, through better design? LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The majority of adverse incidents involving medical devices are user-related, yet the equipment is usually blamed. The “Completing the Picture” event, attended by clinical and biomedical engineers, examined how to minimise risk and the clinical issues that must be addressed to improve the quality and safety of patient care. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The Innovation Expo exhibition showcased the latest innovative concepts and new technologies aimed at improving healthcare – from futuristic treatment “pods” to the latest technologies to “design bugs out”.

Speaking at the Innovation Expo, held in London, Health Minister Lord Darzi said that creating a culture of innovation will play an essential role in helping the NHS to meet the current economic challenges. Technology could provide the key to taking cost out of the system, but NHS leaders must be more sympathetic to risk takers. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Ethylene Oxide (EtO) sterilisation has an important contribution to ensuring effective infection control. ASHLEY MOONEY, managing director, Andersen Products, provides an insight into the technology.

In 2010, every NHS surgeon will be using a safety checklist to help save more lives on the operating table. However, as CEO TONY DAVIS Medilink West Midlands explains, there are already home-grown solutions available to prevent avoidable casualties.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections were once viewed as “inevitable” but zero rates are now being reported. A recent conference on IV infection examined how implementing best practice can have an impact on infection rates and highlighted a need to raise awareness of the latest guidelines. LOUISE FRAMPTON report

Consultant anaesthetists, Dr HOWARD WAKELING and Dr CAROLINE JENKINS, from the Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, provide an update on the latest research on the use of oesophageal Doppler monitoring (ODM) to guide fluid management during surgery.

Despite the high prevalence of diabetes in the western world and the significant increase in hospital admissions, it remains poorly understood by non-diabetic specialist hospital staff. M S KAMARUDDIN,* R QUINTON,† N LEECH,§ examine the question: is inpatient diabetes care adhering to the principle of “first do no harm”?

The MHRA recently hosted a programme of workshops aimed at improving compliance with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN, DMS examines how healthcare organisations can retain and capitalise on the experience of older workers.

Graft infection rates following vascular surgery have been significantly improved at the Leicester Royal Infirmary through a raft of changes at the Trust. As an unexpected consequence, antibiotic costs have been halved. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The NHS has been criticised for “not doing enough to promote innovation”. However, health minister Lord Darzi has announced major plans to transform health service performance – including a £220 million fund for innovation, prizes for inventions, and a requirement for SHAs to produce annual innovation reports.

Based on 8.6 million surgical procedures performed in the UK each year, an infection rate of 4.2% and treatment costs of approximately £2,100 per infection, the total cost of surgical site infection (SSI) is estimated to total £758 million per annum.

The health service is faced with the challenge of managing a multi-generational workforce – each with different cultural values and career aspirations. Achieving a better understanding of each generation, their differences, and how to motivate them, could have an important contribution to the development of successful teams. KATE WOODHEAD RGN, DMS reports.