A Quality Improvement Project to Minimize COVID-19 Infections in Patients Receiving Haemodialysis and the Role of Routine Surveillance Using Nose and Throat Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR and Serum Antibody Testing.

Background: Patients receiving in-centre haemodialysis (ICHD) are highly vulnerable to COVID-19.

Objective: We created a quality improvement (QI) project aimed to eliminate outbreaks of COVID-19 in haemodialysis units and evaluated the utility of surveillance rRT-PCR test and SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies for prompt identification of patients infected with COVID-19.

Methods: A multifaceted QI programme including a bundle of infection prevention control (IPC) measures was implemented across 5 ICHD units following the first wave of the pandemic in June 2020.

Development and presentation of an objective risk stratification tool for healthcare workers when dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: risk modelling based on hospitalisation and mortality statistics compared with epidemiological data.

Objectives: Healthcare workers have greater exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and an estimated 2.5-fold increased risk of contracting COVID-19 than the general population. We wished to explore the predictive role of basic demographics to establish a simple tool that could help risk stratify healthcare workers.

Guidelines for the follow-up of patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery can facilitate weight loss and improvement in medical comorbidities. It has a profound impact on nutrition, and patients need access to follow-up and aftercare. NICE CG189 Obesity emphasized the importance of a minimum of 2 years follow-up in the bariatric surgical service and recommended that following discharge from the surgical service, there should be annual monitoring as part of a shared care model of chronic disease management.

An evaluation of two Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics in central Lancashire, UK.

Aim: The aim of the project was to assess critically, using Maxwell's six dimensions, the quality of the services provided by the two Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics (RACPCs) in Central Lancashire.

Methods: Data on the actual use of the clinic was obtained from the two RACPCs. A record linkage exercise between the database of patients from the RACPC and HES/mortality data was performed.

Evidence-based standards of care for adults with epilepsy-a literature review.

Epilepsy is the most common serious chronic neurological condition. All patients with epilepsy regardless of location should receive the highest quality of services that can be provided. In order to do this current service provision has to be reviewed and bench marked against ideal standards of service provision that cover a comprehensive range of services to meet all patient needs.