FEATURE ARTICLES

Poor team working, insufficient training, administrative burdens, a lack of clear leadership and an absence of central targets are undermining patient safety in maternity services, an independent inquiry has concluded. The sector has a good track record, but more needs to be done. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The Government has ambitious plans to improve cancer care in the UK, but its Cancer Reform Strategy has been met with cynicism. Leading cancer charities say that the plan is well-meaning, but question whether it can be implemented. LOUISE FRAMPTON examines the challenges ahead.

The safety of medicines is a major concern for both the medical community and pharmaceutical industries alike. Against this backdrop, The Clinical Services Journal reports on a recent conference organised by the MHRA focusing on current experience and future directions within this area.

New research reveals that the average patient length of stay in hospital following standard surgery can vary by up to three weeks depending on the NHS Trust. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

LOUISE FRAMPTON talks to Sue Ward, president of the Medical Women’s Federation, about the “feminisation” of the medical profession, the issues that this raises for workforce planning, and the barriers that need to be addressed.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS, technical editor of The Clinical Services Journal, discusses the evidence for best practice when preparing patients for surgery.

An independent watchdog has published a report measuring the success of Payment by Results. The reform was introduced by the Government with the aim of improving efficiency in the NHS. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Magnetic stimulation is the subject of pioneering investigations in the areas of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, COPD, depression, pain relief and a wide variety of other applications in neurology, psychology and rehabilitation. The technology is advancing fast and new clinical uses are on the horizon. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

The use of disposable curtains is one of the key infection prevention measures adopted by a major Trust in London, reports The Clinical Services Journal.

The importance of clinicians working ever more closely with suppliers of medical equipment and modular-constructed operating theatre environments on ways technological advances can be introduced is underlined by Bill Al-Khatib, managing director of Maquet UK. NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

The way fatalities are investigated will change after the 6 April, and this will have ramifications for all those involved. LOUISE FRAMPTON looks at what happens when a hospital becomes a “crime scene”.

A Doppler monitoring technique pioneered at the University of Leicester is virtually eliminating the risk of post-operative embolism following carotid endarterectomy. Now work is underway to eliminate the need for monitoring in the first place. LOUISE FRAMPTON reports.

KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS defines clear paths to be taken if patient safety is to be further improved and fears of those undergoing treatment allayed.

Recent research has examined whether or not a lubricant, designed to prevent instrument seizure, presents an unacceptable risk to clean room standards. The findings are reported by MARK STORR from B. Braun Aesculap.

Gender-specific cancers are on the increase, bringing a range of related medical conditions. Dr HENRY IRVING, consultant radiologist and clinical director of radiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, explains one of the lesser known side-effects and what this means for urologists.

The use of cryotherapy to freeze and destroy cancerous tumours is becoming more widely adopted but has encountered significant barriers in terms of funding and recognition from NICE. Some clinicians argue that UK patients are being disadvantaged. LOUISE FRAMPTON looks at how this procedure is advancing.

Management of acute post-operative pain, issues relating to inter-hospital patient transfer, and paediatric emergencies were among topics studied at a conference recently held in London by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI). NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) recently held a conference at Westminster which included the latest scientific opinion on minimising secondary brain injury. LOUISE FRAMPTON provides an overview.

Research continues to find an effective method to eliminate the risk of prion contamination on reusable surgical instruments. To date, there is no consensus on the way forward. The Clinical Services Journal looks at the latest contributions to the debate and some new developments.

Successes achieved in the development and running of a new cardiothoracic centre in Essex are numerous. NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.