Creating a safer work environment.

The perioperative environment is associated with many hazards both for staff and patients. Practitioners throughout the world assess the risks and take action to mitigate these--an example of this is the many policies and procedures associated with infection prevention.

Progressing safer surgery.

The Patient Safety report from the House of Commons Health Committee (July 2009) identified that as many as 10% of patients admitted to hospital suffer some form of unnecessary harm every year, some seriously, even fatally, but that much of this is avoidable. The report criticised the NHS for the lack of open reporting and learning from incidents, the lack of non-technical skills amongst front line staff and inadequate staffing levels which can compromise safe patient care.

Cross-border healthcare: a patient's choice.

Going abroad for medical treatment is not new and 'health tourism' is a growing trend with estimates suggesting that as many as 150,000 Britons choose this option. A European Directive being proposed could increase those numbers.

Leadership and quality top NHS agenda.

In December 2008 the Department of Health released the new operating framework for 2009/10 (DH 2008a). The framework highlights key principles around the provision of care for patients in the NHS and prime among these are the emphasis placed on leadership and quality. The theme throughout is that patient experience is the key indicator of success for the NHS.

Instrument integrity and sterility: the perioperative practitioner's responsibilities.

Surgical instruments, whether single use or reusable, are defined by the University of Newcastle's Online Medical Dictionary as 'Hand held tools or implements used by health professionals for the performance of surgical tasks' (CancerWEB 1998). This definition, in its broadest terms, recognises that the inter-professional team (health professionals) are involved in the use, care and management of that tool or implement (performance of surgical tasks). Spry (2007) identifies that a surgical instrument could last 10 years if well made, carefully handled and appropriately used and that it is the responsibility of the surgical team and sterile services personnel to preserve and protect the life of each individual instrument.

Feedback from members on decontamination services.

In February 2007 AfPP asked its members for their feedback on decontamination services. For example, decontamination services to perioperative areas and issues experienced on a daily basis, particularly service issues from those outsourced services. AfPP asked its members to share their experiences, concerns and issues - both positive and negative.

HCAIs: statutory code of practice in England and Wales.

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) such as Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. dif) are never far from the media headlines. In January 2006 a leaked memo identified the government's concerns that its target of halving MRSA infection rates by April 2008 may not be met (Boseley 2007).

Bullying and harassment in perioperative settings.

This article explores the concepts of bullying and harassment, defines the terms and their implications, and explores similarities and differences between the two. It also examines pertinent legislation and identifies strategies to raise awareness and optimise a bullying and harassment-free perioperative environment. Bullying and harassment in the workplace was the focus of this presentation at NATN Congress 2002.

Bullying and harassment in perioperative settings.

This article explores the concepts of bullying and harassment, defines the terms and their implications, and explores similarities and differences between the two. It also examines pertinent legislation and identifies strategies to raise awareness and optimise a bullying and harassment-free perioperative environment. Bullying and harassment in the workplace was the focus of this presentation at NATN Congress 2002.