RECENT NEWS

Nearly half of all patients are currently being treated within 18 weeks, a year and a half ahead of schedule, according to official figures produced by the Department of Health.

ClearCount’s patented SmartSponge system, based on radio frequency identification (RFID), has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Researchers at St Martins College (soon to become University of Cumbria) are planning a project that could help to save lives through a reduction in the number of inaccurate X-ray diagnoses and quicker warnings of the early signs of bowel cancer.

SonoSite hand-carried ultrasound systems, being used in several GP surgeries, are allowing quicker diagnosis and time to treatment.

AUS government body has announced it is to fund the use of CardioQ, which improves outcomes for patients undergoing surgery and cuts the cost of care. However, the manufacturer, Deltex Medical, claims that patients in the UK are being routinely denied this technology.

The Association for Perioperative Practice has launched two new publications:

An independent study of staff views of the progress of the NHS IT programme has found that financial deficits and poor communication are hampering its successful implementation. Staff also expressed fears that delays will present a risk to patient safety.

Dr Paul Hurlstone, consultant gastroenterologist at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, has won a prestigious Cancer Innovation Award, a category within the Medical Futures Innovation Awards 2007.

The daughter of the late broadcaster Alistair Cooke has welcomed new rules to control the import and export of human tissue in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

North Manchester General Hospital, part of the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, has introduced an Axiom Artis dTA from Siemens Medical Solutions.

MEP Liz Lynne, has warned that proposed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) legislation must be amended or lives will be at risk – a view supported by the recently published Crozier report.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on the use of the “clot-busting” drug alteplase for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. NICE has recommended alteplase within the NHS as long as it is used in accordance with the safety rules already set out in the drug’s licence.

Between February 2006 and January 2007, there were 24,382 reports of patients being mismatched with their care – more than 2,900 of these related to wristbands.

In a bid to reduce patient waiting times in the West Kent area, a new treatment centre has opened within the grounds of Maidstone Hospital – providing extra capacity for day case procedures and chemotherapy. Officially opened by the previous Health Minister, Andy Burnham (now Chief Secretary to the Treasury), the Mid Kent Treatment Centre is privately run on behalf of the NHS by the Partnership Health Group (PHG).

In a survey of 7000 Londoners, 60% said improvement was needed in waiting times to see consultants, cleanliness in hospitals, waiting in A&E and for routine operations. Twenty-seven percent said they were dissatisfied with the running of the NHS compared to 18% nationally. To address these concerns, a report by a top London surgeon has been published which proposes a network of “polyclinics” throughout the capital.

The Medical Defence Union (MDU), which advises members on criminal matters which might arise from their clinical duties, warned that hospital doctors may face more investigations into their conduct when the Corporate Manslaughter Act comes into effect on 6 April 2008.

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has published his annual report on the state of public health, which calls for action in five key areas. This includes: improving levels of hand hygiene, tackling organ shortages for transplantation, reducing the risk of radiation overdoses during cancer treatment, research into 'intrapartum-related deaths', and increasing the number of women in the most senior positions in medicine.

GPs are still prescribing antibiotics for up to 80% of cases of sore throat, otitis media, upper respiratory tract infections, and sinusitis, despite the fact that official guidance warns against this practice, according to an analysis of the world's largest primary care database of consultations and prescriptions, published in a supplement to the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. This practice is hindering efforts to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance.

ClearCount’s patented SmartSponge System, based on radio frequency identification (RFID), has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The system is claimed to be the world’s first RFID system that detects and counts surgical sponges and towels during surgical procedures.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on the use of the ‘clot-busting’ drug alteplase for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. NICE has recommended alteplase within the NHS as long as it is used in accordance with the safety rules already set out in the drug’s licence.