FEATURE ARTICLES

With politicians talking of the need for public spending cuts, the commercial recruitment firms that supply temporary nurses to the NHS are coming under increasing pressure to justify their role.

3. difficile incidence may be twice as high as previously recorded, and many cases are being missed by current testing methods. A symposium dedicated to the issue discussed these findings, as well as the changes that are needed to tackle the problem head on.

A major incident can affect all parts of the NHS and its impact can be devastating. Hospitals must plan for such a contingency and ensure that all healthcare staff are trained and prepared should the need arise.

Barts and The London NHS Trust continually strives to improve patient safety and was named a finalist in the 2010 Patient Safety Awards1 for its efforts in introducing the Surgical Safety Checklist. The Clinical Services Journal provides an insight into how the Trust implemented change.

CHRIS PACKHAM discusses the issue of dermatitis in relation to hand hygiene products and argues that decisions on whether to change current practice should be based on evidence – not simply “perception”.

Thoracic aortic dissection is under-diagnosed and under-treated as the symptoms are often mistaken for a heart attack. If left untreated, 75% of sufferers die in the first two weeks and 90% die in the first three months. Experts in vascular medicine recently gathered to discuss the challenges in diagnosing and treating such disease. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The NHS Technology Adoption Centre’s next wave of “How to, Why to” guides are being launched to support the uptake of innovative technologies, designed to improve the quality of care, improve patient outcomes and enhance productivity.

A systems approach in order to probe deeper into the causes of hospital-based infection outbreaks is required, argues PATRICK WATERSON.

A simulated hospital environment has been created at Trumpf’s new facilities with the aim of promoting a better understanding of environmental factors in improving patient recovery, as well as key considerations such as lighting and televised training in theatres. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Earlier diagnosis and treatment of a common blood condition could prevent heart attack, stroke, DVT and miscarriage – delivering huge savings to the NHS. Yet patients with Hughes Syndrome continue to experience long delays in obtaining a test and often have to endure multiple miscarriages before referral is considered. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Dr ROBERT MORGAN, consultant vascular and interventional radiologist at St George’s Vascular Unit, provides an overview of the burden of PAD, guidance on how to diagnose the condition, relevant risk factors, risk-factor modification and treatment options available.

The number of people who are not receiving the recommended care for diabetes has been described as “unacceptable” following a national audit. Social deprivation also continues to be a major factor in the poor management of the condition. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Virtual ward rounds and guidance in medical therapies have transformed patient care at Frimley Park NHS Foundation Trust Hospital. With a remote data access, transfer and collaboration system, consultants can assist decision making, whatever their location – while improvements to patient safety and quality have also been reported.

Tuberculosis infection control and screening must be prioritised in order to prevent patients from disseminating drug-resistant TB. New data shows that the health service needs to improve its current strategy. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports on GASTRO 2009, a congress attended by about 14,600 delegates from around the world and facilitating links between basic science and clinical practice.

NHS Supply Chain is seeking to promote innovation in the NHS by “scoring” new products that have been identified as delivering value to Trusts, coupled with significant benefits for patients.

There is a need to remove endoscope reprocessing from treatment areas and to ensure that it is performed in dedicated facilities by specialist staff, decontamination experts argue.

A patient safety campaign adopted across Wales has delivered significant results – through improved leadership, communication, patient monitoring and early warning of patient deterioration. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

A cross-party committee of MPs claims that a focus on national targets for MRSA and C. difficile has meant that attention has been diverted away from other deadly infections, which are now increasing.

An exhibition at the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons recently examined the question: “Are we on the edge of a robot revolution in medicine?” LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.