RECENT NEWS

The Information Commissioner has upheld a decision by a hospital Trust not to disclose a report requested under the Freedom of Information Act.

Bang & Olufsen Medicom and AstraZeneca AB have entered into an agreement on the development of a new patient monitor that measures patient compliance.

Cook Urological, a supplier of private medical devices, has developed a new kidney stone extractor which it claims will significantly improve irrigation and better visibility during stone removal procedures.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently welcomed the announcement by Health Minister Andy Burnham asking NICE to launch a new programme of work to help the NHS identify interventions that are not effective.

The Healthcare Commission has urged NHS hospitals to step up efforts to improve the prescribing and dispensing of medicines. The Commission made the plea when publishing comparative assessments on medicines management for all 173 acute hospital Trusts in England.

Dynal, now part of Invitrogen Corporation, has announced the release of a key research tool in its immunotherapy range: Dynabeads (ClinExVivo CD3/CD28).

Mental health services need to redouble their efforts to ensure the safety of patients. This is the message the Government will be sending to services in response to a report published recently by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA).

Aservice which provides information for people with epilepsy in hospital and healthcare settings, has been given 100% approval by neurologists and epilepsy specialists from across the country.

3M has developed a range of Scotch-Brite colourcoded, disposable wipes which can be used in healthcare environments to help reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Following demand from clinical practice, new guidelines on pre-hospital stroke care targeting ambulance and A&E staff across the country have been developed in an attempt to save thousands of lives a year.

Armstrong Healthcare, the leading image-guided surgical robotics company, has announced that it has successfully raised £1.3 million in its latest funding round.

Professor Ian Greer, deputy dean and Regius chair of obstetrics and gynaecology in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, is to be the new dean of the Hull York Medical School (HYMS). He will take up the position in January 2007.

P3 Medical has amalgamated three established suppliers to hospitals in the UK and overseas – Amba Medical, Phoenix Medical and Promedica.

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has reissued guidance to the NHS in England and Wales to reinforce guidelines to reduce the risk of patient harm associated with the incorrect use of oral methotrexate.

Online training can have a positive impact on the speed at which doctors refer patients with suspected cancer to specialist services, according to findings from Doctors.net.uk.

VIDACARE, provider of solutions for immediate vascular access in circumstances when conventional IV access is challenging or impossible, has announced the introduction of its leading EZ-IO system to the UK.

The National Patient Safety Agency’s (NPSA) campaign to promote patient safety to doctors in training has received two awards from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Eschmann is launching a new certified training programme in the operation of instrument decontamination equipment.

New research by the NHS and Cass Business School has revealed that the NHS has failed to make substantial savings under its intermediate care scheme.

Barnet & Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust has purchased two Sonoline Antares systems that are providing enhanced ultrasound services at the Edgware Breast Screening Unit and the Radiology Unit of Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield in Middlesex.