RECENT NEWS

Doctors’ swipe cards are a potential source of hospital-acquired infection, according to research published in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

This year, the “Completing the Picture” educational symposium will take place on Thursday 11 June 2009, at the Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire.

Pregnant women should not undergo some types of medical examination that involve high doses of radiation to the foetus because of the small increased risk of causing childhood cancer, according to guidance developed by the Health Protection Agency, The Royal College of Radiologists and the College of Radiographers.

The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) has spoken out to show its continued support of “Patient Safety First”, the patient safety improvement campaign for England.

NHS hospitals are making mixed progress on ensuring staff are properly trained and have the specialist skills necessary to provide good quality care for children, according to a report by the Healthcare Commission (now replaced by the Care Quality Commission).

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has opened a new state-of-the-art clinical skills unit, marking the second phase of the College’s Eagle Project which will provide the UK with one of the most advanced surgical teaching facilities in the world.

Patients who have lost part of their visual awareness following a stroke can show an improved ability to see when they are listening to music they like, according to a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Healthcare professionals believe that patients will play a key role in making healthcare systems sustainable, according to a major new research report, Fixing Healthcare, written by the Economist Intelligence Unit and commissioned by Philips.

People with memory problems are less at risk of developing dementia than previously thought, a new study led by the University of Leicester and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has revealed.

Two-thirds of UK doctors are opposed to the legalisation of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, according to research published in Palliative Medicine.

The use of a pioneering safety device at Manchester Royal Infirmary’s A&E department has reduced potentially fatal needlestick injuries for front-line staff. Recorded cannula related needlestick injuries fell to zero following take up of the safety cannula, devised by B. Braun Medical, which features a self-activating safety clip that automatically and permanently shields the needle’s sharp end when it is retracted from a vein.

Millions of people currently take statins to lower their cholesterol. However, Justin Smith, the author of a controversial book, $29 Billion Reasons to Lie about Cholesterol: Making Profit by Turning Healthy People into Patients, claims to have uncovered evidence to show that “most people do not need to lower their cholesterol”.

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has issued a rapid response report on "Mitigating surgical risk in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty for fractures of the proximal femur".

A report by the Healthcare Commission shows that patients remain concerned about how Trusts deal with their complaints. The way complaints are handled is still the number one issue raised by complainants, accounting for 19% of cases reviewed, up from 16% last year.

A review to clarify the rules on organ transplants for NHS patients and non-UK EU residents, has been announced by Health Secretary Alan Johnson. A number of organs from UK deceased donors are transplanted into non-UK resident EU nationals each year.

Oesophageal doppler monitoring (ODM) saves lives, reduces surgical complications, and shortens patient stay, according to the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme.

More accurate disease classification now means some young children with neuroblastoma will have less intensive treatment with better survival, according to research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Results from a large international trial have shown that there is a strong link between diabetics who have an abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) and an increased risk of other heart-related problems and death.

The National Patient Safety Agency has officially launched a “Never Events” policy which outlines serious patient safety incidents that should not occur.

The House of Lords EU Committee has welcomed a proposal from the European Commission for a Directive on patients’ rights to cross-border healthcare, but called for improvements and warned that, due to the unpredictable impact of the provisions in the Directive, it must be carefully monitored on implementation.