FEATURE ARTICLES

Barriers to innovation in infection control were discussed, and potential solutions presented, at the Healthcare-acquired Infections Conference hosted by Medilink.

When targets and commercial imperatives take priority over patient safety and quality of care, the results can be devastating. An investigation by the Healthcare Commission, at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, has shown there are lessons to be learned. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Trainee surgeons say they are under pressure to lie about the hours they are working and are struggling to gain sufficient theatre experience, due to restrictions imposed by the European Working Time Directive. Concerns were raised that limiting the working week could lead to inferior training and ultimately affect patient safety. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

As failures in transfusion safety hit the headlines, once again, The Clinical Services Journal reports on a recent high profile meeting aimed at implementing actions from the latest “Better Blood Transfusion” health service circular.

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has called for action on a number of key areas relating to public health, as well as patient safety, in his annual report. Not all of his recommendations have won the support of the Government, however. The Clinical Services Journal provides an overview.

A recent audit of service provision for patients with inflammatory bowel disease has shown that improvements have been achieved in a short period of time, but significant concerns remain. Issues arising from the audit were high on the agenda at the British Society of Gastroenterology’s annual meeting. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports

SIMON ELLIOTT, consultant radiologist at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne and an early advocate of the benefits of point-of-care ultrasound, shares his experiences and reflects on how the use of ultrasound is changing.

Despite previous neglect, significant progress has been achieved in the treatment of stroke in the last three years. A new report by the Stroke Association shows what can be achieved when people across the health, care and voluntary services work together to champion stroke. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

A report by the Royal College of Nursing has identified a need to empower nurses to provide leadership on wards and concludes that decisive action must be taken to shape, support and strengthen the role of the ward sister. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Radiology services are under considerable pressure from the National Stroke Strategy, the NICE head injury guidelines and expansion of NHS cancer screening programmes. Teleradiology services could offer a solution to eliminate backlogs in reporting, while ensuring targets for diagnostic waiting times are achieved. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Ensuring positive patient identification is a fundamental cornerstone of patient safety, as The Clinical Services Journal discovered at one of a series of workshops, held throughout the UK, to highlight its key role.

Morbidity associated with obesity and ageing has been identified as a major issue for the healthcare sector. At a recent summit on innovation, senior managers from Johnson and Johnson explained how they plan to address unmet healthcare needs and rise to the challenges ahead – in the face of increasing pressure on international healthcare economies. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The Tissue Viability Society annual conference at Cymru, Llandudno, Wales (27-28 April 2009), will provide a wealth of information on developments in wound care, including the results of a major audit to assess the UK’s readiness to manage pressure ulcer prevention and new guidance on best practice.

While the NHS appears to be making progress in reducing the number of outbreaks of the bacterium, the need for continuing prudence and sound practical measures in preventing and managing C. difficile infection cases is highlighted in new guidance compiled by the Health Protection Agency for the Department of Health. JONATHAN BAILLIE reports.

Patients are rating the quality of care being provided by A&E services as extremely good, but there is room for improvement in a number of areas – including pain relief. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN, DMS provides an insight into healthcare issues currently high on the international agenda – from patient safety and infection prevention, to meeting the challenges of an ageing workforce and tackling violence in the workplace.

From this April patients undergoing hip replacements, knee replacements, groin hernia surgery and varicose vein surgery will be asked to complete a “Patient Reported Outcome Measures” questionnaire. LOUISE FRAMPTON examines the implications for healthcare organisations and the issues that this Government initiative raises

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign has developed a protocol to reduce mortality, but it is widely acknowledged that there is significant room for improvement in terms of compliance with the guidelines and their implementation. Data presented to the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, in Lisbon, suggests that clinical decision support systems could have a positive impact. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Screening for MRSA in paediatrics is not receiving the same national focus as surveillance in adults. However, Birmingham Children’s Hospital believes that rapid detection of high-risk patients is crucial and is expanding its screening programme beyond the Government’s requirements. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

Failed attempts to introduce speech recognition technology in radiology departments have led to scepticism, but successful projects show that significant cost savings can be achieved, while improving patient care. The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has reported significant benefits and is now expanding the technology from the radiology department into other clinical areas. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.