FEATURE ARTICLES

Following the publication of its final audit, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists made a number of recommendations to tackle the risk posed by Group B Strep and has highlighted the need for improved guidelines.

Professor Paul Collinson, consultant chemical pathologist and professor of cardiovascular biomarkers, St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, provides an insight into the use of point of care testing to improve the diagnostic pathway for patients presenting with acute chest pain.

Heart failure is often poorly diagnosed and public awareness is low. A recent inquiry has examined how care could be improved and lives transformed.

Nearly 1,000 babies die each year, or are severely disabled, because of potentially avoidable harm in labour. Suzanne Callander looks at the key messages from a series of reports.

CSJ reports on a recent presentation at AfPP which considered whether harnessing digital health could have the potential to enhance the ‘human touch’. Dr Fotis called for nurses to champion digital technology to help improve care for patients.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS discusses the current workforce challenges and argues that developing new roles within clinical care could offer many potential benefits for patients and society.

David Cook and Dr John Sandham provide an insight into improving healthcare technology management to deliver transformation. They argue that the application of technology can be used to facilitate new ways of working and enhance patient safety.

Suzanne Callander reports on a new framework which advises a whole system approach to ensure that deterioration in children is recognised and responded to quickly and appropriately in hospitals.

Variation in outcomes between different surgical units and individual surgeons remains a challenge, according to the latest reports on emergency surgery.

Alder Hey in the Park has partnered with Sony’s Healthcare Solutions team to build a hospital-wide IP video network, allowing High Definition surgical footage to be viewed by surgeons and students anywhere on campus.

Gerry Bolger, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, recently shared his insights into achieving safer care through the use of patient monitoring technology at the Welch Allyn Completing the Picture educational symposium.

The MEDICA 2016 exhibition is set to take place from 14-17 November at the Düsseldorf Messe in Germany. The Clinical Services Journal reports on what you can expect from the event this year.

The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) has produced new guidelines on best practice methods to diagnose Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The Clinical Services Journal reports.

John Prendergast highlights the fact that there are differing priorities between ‘hands on’ clinical staff and dedicated professionals with responsibility for undertaking, managing or supplying endoscope decontamination services.

Gail Lowdon, clinical surveillance lead, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides an insight into the opportunities for shared learning at this year’s QIST conference.

Clinical leaders play an important role in encouraging innovation and creativity in teams. Raj Purewal discusses how to promote an innovative spirit.

The public’s love affair with cosmetic interventions shows no sign of abating, but what protection is there for members of the public and how can they be sure their surgeon has the appropriate training and experience?

The Health Foundation has published a report on the workforce in the NHS, which concludes that the greatest threats to the delivery of the Five Year Forward Vieware funding constraints and staff shortages.

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS acknowledges that action must be taken to tackle the financial pressures in the NHS, but argues that we must not forsake the momentum on delivering quality.

Tim Sandle PhD considers the importance of optimising the selection of detergents for cleaning medical equipment and outlines the factors that influence efficacy and effectiveness.