Contents
THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL Inside this issue 41 The importance of effectively managing swabs
5 Editor’s Comment Putting patient safety centre stage
6 Cover Story: Supporting healthcare to achieve Net Zero
Tork manufacturer, Essity, is dedicated to providing sustainable hygiene products and services in all its markets. Sales Manager Liam Mynes explains how the company is going that extra mile to achieve sustainable outcomes in healthcare.
9 News 15 The challenges of surgical provision in Africa
Kate Woodhead highlights the surgical safety challenges experienced in African regions and shares her insights from a recent visit to Rwanda by Friends of African Nursing.
20 Thought leaders highlight EBME challenges
Bridging the divide between IT and EBME will be vital for the digital future of the NHS, along with raising awareness of the profession to the next generation. These and other challenges were among the hot topics discussed at a thought leadership workshop at EBME Expo.
25 Driving patient and workforce safety
In the complex and ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the emphasis on patient and healthcare worker safety has become increasingly paramount. September’s World Patient Safety Day serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of these issues. To mark this occasion, we delve into the work of the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) Patient Safety Group.
29 Martha’s Rule: implementation and key priorities
The Westminster Health Forum recently brought together stakeholders, clinical leaders and policymakers to discuss the implementation of Martha’s Rule, which aims to provide patients, families, carers and staff with 24/7 access to a rapid review, from a separate critical care team, when concerns arise about a patient’s deteriorating condition.
37 Risk of surgical swabs being left inside patients
The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) investigated the risk of unintentional ‘retained’ swabs after invasive procedures, having examined the case of a patient who had two swabs left in her chest, following serious heart surgery.
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com Volume 23 I Issue 8 I September 2024 45 Critical aspects of microbial control THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL
Critical aspects of microbial control
Martha’s Rule: implementation and key priorities The challenges of surgical provision in Africa
This year, the Central Sterilising Club’s Annual Scientific Meeting brought to the fore the complex challenges around microbial control both in the healthcare environment and with medical devices. At the heart of the discussion was the need to balance patient safety with the need to protect our planet.
49 A great debate: sustainable decontamination
Does passionate idealism for sustainable decontamination threaten patient safety, or do we need to rethink the culture of single use? These were some of the questions debated at The Central Sterilising Club’s Annual Meeting.
53 Calls to tackle ageing equipment in theatres
Ageing surgical equipment, particularly operating tables, can greatly affect medical outcomes, warns Sam Parry. This article discusses the importance of modernising equipment in the operating theatre and how this can improve efficiency and reduce the risk of downtime.
57 Shining a light on the future of surgery
From advances in robot-assisted surgery, to artificial intelligence, the future of surgery is rapidly evolving. The latest innovations will be highlighted at this year’s Future Surgery event – alongside discussion of the latest trends and issues that are set to shape the direction of the surgical profession.
63 Supporting a flexible healthcare workforce
New approaches are needed to long-standing challenges, and we all have a part to play, argues Mark Underwood. He looks at how we can support a flexible health and social care workforce to ensure a better future.
67 How breath analysis could support gut health
Billy Boyle discusses the potential of breath analysis technology in delivering improvements in diagnosis and clinical monitoring, for patients with digestive diseases. In this article, he reveals how portable devices could revolutionise gastrointestinal healthcare in the future.
71 Psychological factors and preventing SSIs
Dr. Richard Sherry, a Clinical Psychologist, proposes a change of approach in surgical care that considers psychological human factors in efforts to reduce surgical site infection and the risk of complications.
77 Reducing the NHS’s impact on the environment
Paul Chivers, an independent consultant, highlights the latest research which suggests that a new decontamination technology has the potential to “save the equivalent of 115 swimming pools per year”.
In this article, Tracey Pavier-Grant describes how an effective risk management strategy for the disposal of swabs can help prevent Never Events and provide surgical teams with peace of mind.
Volume 23 I Issue 8 I September 2024
September 2024 I
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