NEWS DIGEST


they can sometimes neglect to care for themselves,” says Dr Parker. “Speaking to a colleague or their own GP about these issues should not be seen as a sign of weakness. More and more doctors are suffering from stress or health problems as workload increases. Doctors who are concerned about a colleague’s wellbeing are advised to be sensitive and encourage them to seek help.”


New sharps regulations take effect


NEW regulations requiring UK healthcare employers and contractors to have effective arrangements for the safe use and disposal of sharps have come into force this month. Under The Health and Safety (Sharp


Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations employers will be required to have clear arrangements for the safe use and disposal of sharps, including using ‘safer sharps’ where reasonably practicable, restricting the practice of recapping of needles and placing sharps bins close to the point of use. The regulations also call for the provision


of necessary information and training to workers, and a responsibility to investigate and take prompt action in response to work-related sharps injuries. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)


introduced the new regulations in compliance with a European Directive. Guidance for healthcare employers and employees is available from the HSE website (www.hse.gov.uk).


More regulation needed in cosmetic interventions


THE MULTI-BILLION pound UK industry providing surgical and non-surgical cosmetic interventions is inadequately regulated according to an independent review published by the Department of Health in England. Led by NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, the review found that despite the popularity of Botox, dermal fillers and laser hair removal – which account for nine out of 10 procedures in the UK – these non-surgical interventions are subject to almost no regulation. Recommendations outlined in the report


Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions include making all dermal fillers prescription only and ensuring practitioners are properly qualified for all the procedures they offer, from cosmetic surgeons doing breast enlargements to people offering “injectables”, such as dermal fillers or Botox. The review also recommended that there should be an ombudsman to oversee all private healthcare including cosmetic procedures. The government commissioned the


in 2008 has been met. ● JULY ARF PAYMENTS Dental partners and managers are reminded to ensure all dental care professionals employed in practices have paid their GDC annual retention fee by 31 July 2013. Payment must be received on


SUMMER 2013


or before that date if DCPs want to remain on the GDC’s register and be eligible to work. The ARF is £120 for dental nurses, dental technicians, dental therapists, dental hygienists, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists and can be paid by post, by phone or online


review following the PIP breast implant scandal, which exposed significant lapses in product quality, aftercare and record keeping. It also drew attention to widespread use of misleading advertising, inappropriate marketing and unsafe practices across the sector. Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, said: “At the


heart of this report is the person who chooses to have a cosmetic procedure. We have heard terrible reports about people who have trusted a cosmetic practitioner to help them but, when things have gone wrong, they have been left high and dry with no help. These people have not had the safety net that those using the NHS have. This needs to change.” Other recommendations in the review include making providers ensure that potential patients are aware of the implications and risks of any procedure and giving them adequate time to consider this information before agreeing to surgery. There should also be an advertising code of conduct with mandatory compliance and indemnity products should be developed to protect patients in the event of product failure or provider insolvency.


at www.eGDC-uk.org ● DIAGNOSING SERIOUS BOWEL CONDITIONS Draft NICE guidance advises doctors to use a simple stool test to reduce misdiagnosis of serious bowel disorders. The faecal calprotectin test helps to distinguish between illnesses


such as irritable bowel syndrome and more serious inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The draft diagnostics guidance for faecal calprotectin tests for inflammatory diseases of the bowel is available at http://guidance. nice.org.uk/DT/12


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