FEATURE ARTICLES

The NHS wants to be the safest healthcare system in the world – that is its stated aim. As we wait to hear the results of a public consultation 1 with a strategy designed to sit alongside the NHS Long Term Plan, Kate Woodhead RGN DMS, analyses the challenges facing the patient safety movement.

There is a raft of guidance around best practice in endoscope reprocessing, yet the transmission of infection continues to present a serious issue, prompting the FDA to take decisive action. So, what can be done to help tackle the problem?

Since moving to iM-Med there are no worries over equipment and performance in the endoscope reprocessing units at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Cleaning is critical for sterilisation to be effective; this has been well proven and does not require further evidencing. However, warns Pawel de Sternberg Stojalowski, founder and managing director at decontamination specialist Aseptium, the complexity of the cleaning process itself, measuring the effectiveness and the quality of cleaning is quite another matter.

While hospital Trusts want to save money on chemistries, this must be balanced with ensuring efficacy and patient safety at all times. With cheap chemistries entering the market, is it time for a national register to ensure clarity around performance? Moreover, how could new technologies help optimise decontamination chemistries and provide a tool for improvement? Matthew Peskett, from Ruhof, speaks to CSJabout recent trends and controversies.

Jim Brown, sales manager, Westfield Medical, Hospital UK sector, examines the requirement to inhibit hydrophobic proteins from adhering to surgical instruments and to reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections.

Richard Bancroft, B.Sc (Hons), science and technical director at Steris Corporation explores ISO 15883-4 and its implications for endoscope washer-disinfectors.

Managing a testing schedule for a busy endoscopy or sterile-services department can be a challenging task for hospital staff.

A Europe-wide initiative to protect patients and public health from falsified or fake medical devices and medicines went live on Saturday 9 February 2019, making the medicines supply chain across Europe safer than ever before.

Dr Andrew Kemp JP PhD, reader in biology, head of Scientific Advisory Group BICSc, discusses new evidence that suggests alcohol gels could be causing more harm than we thought.

Decontamination of reusable medical devices including ultrasound probes is important to prevent infection transmission. The number of ultrasound procedures is rapidly increasing and, according to Jon Burdach, PhD, head of clinical affairs at Nanosonics, the need to keep up-to-date on decontamination requirements may be challenging for some ultrasound users.

Dennis Fitzpatrick, University of West London; Andrew Barton, Frimley Park Hospital, and Keith Pamment, City University, London, discuss a port location device that has been designed to improve first attempt port access, and to minimise the risk of subcutaneous infection andpain that a patient experiences with subsequent needle insertion attempts.

Hair loss is a well-known side effect of many chemotherapy regimens, with many patients claiming it is the most traumatic aspect of their treatment. Now, the world’s first scalp cooling research centre is committed to achieving its vision of ‘zero hair loss’ during chemotherapy.

The Topol Review, an independent report on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, was released on 11 February 2019, outlining the usage of digital technology within Trusts across the UK. CSJ examines what this means for the future of healthcare and NHS staff.

The Theatres & Decontamination Conference 2019 provided delegates with expert insight into helping healthcare professionals work towards a better patient experience and improved quality of care.

Hicom’s business development manager, Jon Elburn, outlines why integrating diverse data sets is key to effective pathway design. But in the rush fora‘single version of the truth’, Trusts must not overlook the value of niche clinical systems.

Kate Woodhead, RGN, DMA describes the work of Friends of African Nursing –a small UK based charity she works with, which delivers training to nurses in a variety of African countries.

A new purpose-built operating theatre has been completed, offering a world-class training and demonstration base for customers to experience Bender UK technology first-hand. The Clinical Services Journalpaid a visit to this remarkable operating theatre demonstration room.

Wolfgang Merkens, Schülke & Mayr GmbH, was invited to address the annual Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc) conference in November 2018. Here, The Clinical Services Journal provides highlights from his presentation.

The Electronic and biomedical engineering (EBME) Expo is an independent educational event bringing together healthcare professionals that are responsible for the management of medical equipment. EBME’s chairman< Dr John Sandham, discusses what to expect at the 2019 EBME Expo.