The recurring problem of retained swabs and instruments.

Patient safety is one of the most pressing challenges in health care. The promotion of safety requires that all those involved in healthcare realise that the potential for errors exists, and that teamwork and communication are essential for preventing errors. Incidents compromising patient safety, such as unintended retention of swabs or instruments, are regarded as 'never events'.

Laparoscopic management of genital prolapse.

Introduction: Genital prolapse is one of the most common indications for gynaecological surgery. Surgery is performed traditionally via abdominal, vaginal and laparoscopic approaches.

Methods: A MEDLINE computer search was performed to explore the recent evidence behind laparoscopic surgery for female pelvic organ prolapse.

The place of ultrasound in urogynaecology clinic.

Urinary incontinence is a silent epidemic severely affecting the quality of life of women. Clinical assessment alone has been shown to be an ineffective way of assessing women with lower urinary tract dysfunction; hence, there is a need for urodynamic studies. Nevertheless, urodynamics cannot explain all the symptoms and is not always available.

Maternity guidelines: aid or hindrance?

This questionnaire survey was performed to explore the attitudes of 295 obstetricians and midwives in a teaching and a district general hospital, towards the maternity directorate guidelines, and to document the possible barriers that may hinder their adherence and suggestions for improvement. The response rate was 61%. There was a tendency in both hospitals to agree that guidelines help learning and improve the quality of care, but make practice defensive, stop innovation, narrow the clinical freedom and do not reduce cost.