FEATURE ARTICLES

As decontamination units and SSDs restart services in the post-COVID era, decontamination consultant, Trevor Garcia, looks at some of the issues impacting on the selection of detergents and disinfectants for use in washer-disinfectors (WDs).

The NHS faces a slow road to recovery and the Government must manage expectations to retain public confidence, the NHS Confederation has warned. A new report outlines key recommendations to help healthcare services recover.

IoT technology could modernise operating theatres, from isolated workspaces to being part of an active collaborative support system.

Pressure ulcers present a huge burden for the NHS and it has led to growing concerns about the incidence, how their management could be affected and what this will mean for patient outcomes. So, how can the health service address this?

Hanna Bielecka argues that chlorine dioxide, at low concentrations, dosed into filtered rinse water, could provide an effective solution to ensure water quality in decontamination processes.

Isolation facilities tackling the new coronavirus are now turning to portable handwashing facilities. The tactical use of portable sinks can help increase infection prevention efforts.

David Woods BSc (Hons) provides an insight into the various test methods available for washer disinfectors to ensure the quality of reprocessing activities.

Differential diagnosis of reflux disease is key to directing appropriate treatment, including selecting the right therapies and making the appropriate lifestyle changes.

The NHS has faced a shortage of personal protective equipment, prompting requests for advice on contingency reprocessing measures, to ensure availability of single-use PPE items during the COVID-19 healthcare crisis.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is a Department of Health Scan4Safety demonstrator site for the adoption of GS1 and PEPPOL standards.

How can hospitals ensure they protect patients from the potential risks of infection?

The European Commission has postponed the medical devices regulations to prioritise the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Tim Sandle looks at the current European standards on disinfectants and the key considerations for hospitals to ensure the biocidal efficacy of the chemistries they use.

Legal expert, Amy Clarke, discusses the legal implications of the current PPE shortages and what the provision will mean in the long term.

Despite the challenges of international shortages of life-saving equipment, huge volumes of medical devices have been commissioned to provide monitoring and support for patients with COVID-19.

In healthcare, we often seek to understand what ‘good looks like’ – but what does ‘outstanding’ look like? Louise Frampton speaks to the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust about quality improvement initiatives.

James Urie, from Mediplus, explains how the latest advances in capnography are improving safety in anaesthesia, as well as concordance with respiratory monitoring in paediatric patients.

A Westminster Health Forum policy conference recently highlighted the economic impact of antimicrobial resistance. High on the agenda was the question: how can we incentivise the development of new antimicrobials? Louise Frampton reports.

James Anderson, from Lime Solicitors, highlights recent legal action relating to surgeons recommending treatment which may not be necessary or in the patients’ best interests. He outlines some key principles that should be central to any safeguarding protocol to prevent such scandals in the future.

Dr. Andrew Melling discusses the importance of maintaining normothermia in patients undergoing surgery and examines the evidence for various warming approaches – from forced air warming to fluid warming.