RECENT FEATURE ARTICLES

For years, the aviation industry has used a digital archived record of every flight, allowing pilots to review and perfect their performance, thereby minimising the likelihood of errors and harm. There has never been an equivalent for surgeons, until now. Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram discusses how embracing technology could make a difference.

At the Association for Perioperative Practice’s annual congress, delegates gained an insight into how high intensity theatre lists could provide a solution to tackling the backlog. Central to this approach is effective, multidisciplinary team working.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS highlights a new report, developed by a working party appointed by the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) and the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). The guidelines aim to minimise ritualistic behaviours occurring in operating theatres without increasing the risk of SSI.

The need to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the key themes of this year’s IPS conference. Working with external organisations to tackle the issue is Essity, manufacturer of Tork hygiene products and services. The company’s Jenny Logenius explains the importance of reducing the risks of AMR

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a valuable tool that aids clinical decision making, but there is some controversy over its pre-emptive use for monitoring disease progression. Professor Jimmy Limdi discusses current approaches to TDM in clinical practice.

At EBME Expo, it was clear that clinical engineers will have a key role in helping to tackle the risks associated with medical technologies, as increasing intelligence and connectivity present new and evolving challenges. From safety risks associated with artificial intelligence to cyber-attacks on UK hospitals, delegates were provided with some thought-provoking insights.

Technology is at the very core of NHS plans to deliver transformation, but making these big breakthroughs requires investment in medical equipment, IT infrastructure, and clinical technology expertise. Ruth Strickland and Caroline Finlay discuss the challenges and solutions required to ensure effective management of clinical technology.

The NHS is seeking to advance the roll out of virtual wards and implement more efficient ways of working, in a bid to tackle the backlog and reduce pressures on UK hospitals. Advances in mobile patient monitoring are helping to keep patients safe and support new models of healthcare delivery. Louise Frampton reports

Following the publication of Mölnlycke’s report on recovering elective care in the UK, James Hockley discusses some of the key areas where operating theatre efficiencies can be delivered. He highlights how new ways of working could help to relieve pressure on the system and its staff.

The Elective Recovery Taskforce has outlined a plan to “turbocharge” recovery of the backlog in elective care, while empowering patients to choose where they are treated. The independent sector will have a key role to play. CSJ provides a summary of the key plans and responses from the healthcare sector.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the productivity challenges facing the NHS, as it faces strike action, a decline in goodwill, staff burnout and a mounting backlog. The problem is far from simple and will need to be addressed by tackling multiple factors.

In this article, Allison Seabourne, Medstor Sales Director, praises the NHS PPN 06/20 for its positive impact throughout the supply chain.

Bernard Ross reports on a survey of experts and patients which sought views on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of tissue viability care. The survey also looked at the causes of non-adherence to treatments, the role of telemedicine and innovation, the emotional impact of living with unhealed leg venous ulcers, and the current state of wound care resources

Amanda Caley provides an insight into the evidence to support the use of technology that could improve detection rates in colposcopy – including the results of an independent study, carried out at East Lancashire Hospitals. The technology uncovered 21 high grade Cervical Interepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) in patients that would have otherwise been missed.

Paul Lindsell, managing director, MindMetre Research looks at the latest evidence on the safety of delivery devices used for the administration of insulin. He highlights some concerning findings around insulin pooling and misdosage incidents, following the use of passive devices

Growing pressure on NHS services could be eased if the ‘new mindset and new skillset’ of health coaching was more widely adopted across patient care. This was the prevalent point debated by a panel of esteemed healthcare professionals during Connect Health’s latest Change event, ‘Can health coaching reduce primary care pressure and improve patient outcomes?

Tim Sandle discusses how human factors approaches can assist with improving performance by lowering variability in the decontamination of medical devices – thereby reducing rates of contamination and improving patient safety

The Central Sterilisation Club’s Annual Scientific Meeting brought together leading experts to discuss how the decontamination sector can improve patient safety, increase efficiency, and meet the demand for additional capacity. But what can we learn from low resource settings and what can low resource settings learn from us? The Kelsey Lecture discussed key infection challenges and learning opportunities, across both settings.

As operating theatres are responsible for three to six times more emissions than the rest of the hospital, tackling the issue must be made a top priority. Kate Woodhead RGN DMS looks at how perioperative teams can help to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute towards a greener future.

Mr. Yusuf Gray, from the University Hospitals Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trust, talks about Royal Derby Hospital’s robust point of care testing in its virus management programme, and how implementing year-round RSV testing last year resulted in the discovery of an unexpected summer surge in cases.