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Showing results for tags 'Surgery - General'.
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Content ArticleAccording to the World Health Organization, humanity faces its greatest ever threat: the climate and ecological crisis. Healthcare services globally have a large carbon footprint, accounting for 4-5% of total carbon emissions. Surgery is particularly carbon intensive, with a typical single operation estimated to generate between 150-170kgCO2e, equivalent to driving 450 miles in an average petrol car. The UK and Ireland surgical colleges have recognised that it is imperative for us to act collectively and urgently to address this issue. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh have collated a compendium of peer-reviewed evidence, guidelines and policies that inform the interventions included in the Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist. This compendium should support members of the surgical team to introduce changes in their own operating departments. The recommendations apply the principles of sustainable quality improvement in healthcare, which aim to achieve the “triple bottom line” of environmental, social and economic impacts.
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Content Article
The SPA experience: NHS Wales Award winner 2016
Claire Cox posted an article in Learning disabilities
Having surgery can be a daunting experience for most people. Staff at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Wales, have recognised this, especially in their patients with complex needs. The reasonable adjustments that they have put in place to ensure their patients receive a bespoke, calming, safe experience won them an NHS Wales Award in 2016 in the Citizens at the Centre of Service Redesign and Delivery category.- Posted
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Content ArticleIn this blog for Patient Safety Movement, Pranjal Bora, Head of Product Management at Digital Authority Partners, looks at the ways in which digital technologies improve outcomes and safety in healthcare. The blog examines areas in which digital technologies are currently being used, and looks at the potential future uses of AI and other digital technologies.
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Content ArticleThis innovative educational initiative was developed as a direct and constructive response to the communication inadequacies exposed by the Montgomery case, and subsequent legislation. While it is not difficult to give ‘more information’ it is harder for surgeons and patients to achieve a decision partnership. The ICONS workshop content has been informed by internationally recognised experts in Shared Decision Making, by consensus among senior practising surgeons, by patients and by professional experts in risk management and risk communication. Delegates on the ICONS workshops will acquire skills and knowledge to implement best practice in sharing the complex decisions surrounding informed consent. By participating in a workshop, they will also contribute to the development of resources for future training in the important area of informed consent.
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Content ArticleSurgery is lifesaving or life-enhancing for millions of patients every year. However, the operation is not in itself an isolated ‘event’: it is part of a process which includes preparation and recovery. Ensuring the quality of the entire perioperative pathway is important to achieving the best possible outcome for every patient. This guidance is intended to be used by primary care, surgeons, anaesthetists, perioperative teams and preoperative assessment (POA) services. It applies to all patients who are being considered for surgery, or are on a waiting list for surgery in the non-emergency setting, irrespective of the magnitude of procedure or the type of anaesthesia contemplated. Its recommendations will support the care of individual patients, the recovery of elective services, and achieving key goals of the NHS Long Term Plan including reducing health inequalities and preventing serious health deterioration.
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Content ArticlePatients are commonly given written information, for example in the form of leaflets; however, they often do not retain it and poor literacy is a barrier for many. To address this, working in partnership with a local university, a pre-operative assessment unit designed and developed video animations for patients to illustrate preparation for surgery. The aim was to enhance the accessibility and retention of information to improve patient safety and experience.
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Content ArticleUK experts have issued an update on the timing of elective surgery and risk assessment after COVID-19 infection. Your operation may be delayed if you test positive for Covid-19. Studies of people who had COVID-19 just before or after their surgery show that they had more complications and an increased risk of dying. The risks of chest problems, blood clots or death are about 3 or 4 times greater for a full 7 weeks following COVID-19. These risks are increased even if the patient had no symptoms from COVID-19 (i.e. just a positive test).
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Content ArticleThis Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) investigation looked at the risks to patients when intravenous (IV) drugs are retained in cannulae and extension lines. Some drugs, such as those used in anaesthesia and pain management, can cause patients to stop breathing. After administration, these drugs should be flushed through cannulae and extension lines to make sure no residual quantities of the drugs are left. Despite the issuing of multiple safety alerts over the past ten years, residual drugs in cannulae and extension line events continue to happen. When these events involve drugs that cause the patient to stop breathing, there is a risk of hypoxic brain injury (where the brain is damaged after a period where it does not get enough oxygen) or death. The investigation was launched after concerns were reported to HSIB by a consultant anaesthetist at a district general hospital where a patient had stopped breathing several hours after undergoing an anaesthetic. It’s thought that a quantity of the drug Suxamethonium - a muscle relaxant - was retained in their cannula after the procedure. The cannula containing the drug was flushed on the ward by a nurse preparing to administer intravenous paracetamol around three hours after the patient had returned from his procedure. The event was witnessed by a doctor who immediately started manual ventilation. The patient began to breathe spontaneously a few minutes later and suffered no physical harm. However, they have been left with a significant psychological impact following their experience of being awake but unable to move or breathe.
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Content Article
OneTogether Electronic Assessment Toolkit
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Surgical site infections
This assessment toolkit enables automatic calculation of infection prevention compliance scores. The tool assesses seven areas of care that are fundamental to best practice in minimising the risk of surgical site infection. After each section of the assessment there are notes providing further instructions on how to complete each element. -
Content ArticleThis guide from the Patient Safety Movement Foundation gives actions and resources for creating and sustaining safe practices for surgical site infections.
