Compulsory external standardised education for decontamination sciences: going in the right direction or a step too far?

In the United States, approximately 46.5 million surgical and medical procedures, including approximately 5 million gastrointestinal endoscopies are performed annually (Rutala & Weber 2008). In contrast, there are some 4.

A critical guideline appraisal overview: Choice Framework for local Policy and Procedures (CFPP) 01-01: Management and decontamination of surgical instruments (medical devices) used in acute care. Part A: the formulation of local policy and choices manual Version 1.0: England.

Efficient decontamination of reusable invasive surgical instruments (medical devices) endeavours to eliminate inadvertent transmission of disease by infectious agents and human prions. Although there are several pertinent regulatory British, European and international decontamination standards to adhere to, the Department of Health (DH) is now emphasising the need for individual departments to be proactive in the local decision-making processes, with the aim of improving patient experience in line with health policy direction and support. The following article aims to address some of the questions that many nursing and allied health professionals may want to be answered in relation to Part A of this series.

Treatment and management of obesity: is surgical intervention the answer?

Obesity is rapidly becoming a major health concern and could be considered equal to smoking as a preventable cause of premature death. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE 2006) estimated that 1.1 billion people are overweight, a number rivalling those who are underweight globally.

Regional anaesthesia: back to basics.

Regional anaesthesia has become more popular in recent years with an emphasis on cost effectiveness, bed occupancy, and reduction in hospital acquired infections (HAls). Anaesthesia is a worrying time for any patient, but now the emphasis is to encourage patient empowerment by involving patients in their own care throughout their holistic journey. This article explores patient selection for regional anaesthesia, and the different types of central and peripheral blocks in line with national policies.