FEATURE ARTICLES

Smart tags and packaging are saving lives, preventing illnesses, errors and crime, and sharply reducing costs in healthcare. Report by Dr PETER HARROP FIEE, chairman, IDTechEX.

Considerable attention continues to be given to issues surrounding the decontamination of equipment for gastrointestinal endoscopy, and The Clinical Services Journal summarises the latest British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines.

Sudden cardiac death, particularly that which happens following an episode of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, has been studied using fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology inside individual cells. SUSAN PEARSON examines research into a condition that affects predominantly young children and adolescents.

MARK C. BELLAMY MA MB BS FRCA, professor of critical care anaesthesia, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, explores the challenges facing anaesthetists in ensuring better outcomes for morbidly obese patients before, during and after surgery.

Dr RONALD R CUTLER CSci FIBMS, a principal lecturer in infectious diseases and pathology at the School of Health and Bioscience, University of East London, profiles the avian influenza pathogen and advises against complacency.

To ensure comprehensive action is taken to improve the prevention and treatment of stroke, hugely challenging – but achievable – tasks have to be tackled, a recent conference heard. NICHOLAS MARSHALL reports.

The anticipated problems related to adequate safe future supplies of allogeneic blood in the UK continues to be a cause for concern, due mainly to the impact of vCJD. BARRY HILL reports on a recent meeting which aimed to examine best blood transfusion practice.

JASON RAYFIELD reviews the recent European Science Foundation report Nanomedicine, and talks to report steering and organising committee chair Professor RUTH DUNCAN, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, about the challenges that lie ahead for this emerging multidisciplinary field.

The cost-effectiveness of a nurse-led early discharge scheme for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is outlined by CAMILLA BRIND BSc (Hons) RN, respiratory nurse specialist at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells.

Official media partner The Clinical Services Journal previews products and services from the imminent Hospital Hygiene exhibition.

Dr BERWYN CLARKE, chief scientific officer at Lab21, underlines the value of pharmacogenetics in optimising patient outcomes.

Reduction of potential risks and greater cost efficiency are fundamental surgical ideals. Dr DAVID COATES MB BS FRCA, consultant anaesthetist in Bristol, reports that these benefits can be provided for hip arthroplasty by the use of autologous blood transfusion.

The Peninsula Radiology Academy in Plymouth has been designed to solve the severe shortage of consultant radiologists by offering state-of-the-art teaching methods to make training faster, more effective and more appealing to recruits. JASON RAYFIELD reports.

In the January issue of The Clinical Services Journal, JACKIE YOUNGER, National Practitioner Programme Lead, described the development of the Surgical Care Practitioner role. In this issue, she explains the organisational development, patient safety issues and benefits realisation that need to underpin the role.

BILL MOFFITT, UK operations manager for TBS G.B. Telematic & Biomedical Services, gives Nicholas Marshall an insight into how vital biomedical engineering and telemedicine services are moving forward.

The Government’s new White Paper on community health services sets out a raft of plans to shift the patient care emphasis from the acute sector into the community. CSJ reports.

The case for a suitable risk assessment by Trusts dealing with biocides used in endoscope reprocessing is put by JOAN GRAY RGN, director of clinical education at Sterilox Technologies International.

Knee surgery technology is brought up to date by B.Braun, with an outline of the latest computer navigated surgical techniques which help the surgeon to achieve optimal implant positioning.

ANDY MARDELL, lecturer and theatre nurse, examines the issues affecting patients, their families, and primary care professionals involved in critical care in the community.

JOHN BEESLEY MA BA (Hons) NEBOSH RGN explores the relatively new phenomenon of work related stress within healthcare. This includes the healthcare employer’s liability for managing stress within the workplace.