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The Next issue copy deadline, Wednesday 28th September 2011All enquiries: Mr. L.A.Evans Editor/Advertising Manager, Mr. A. Fletcher Graphics Editor. The OTJ Lawrand Ltd,PO Box 51, Pontyclun, CF72 9YY Tel: 02921 680068* Email: [email protected] Website: www.lawrand.comThe Operating Theatre Journal is published twelve times per year. Available in electronic format from the pages of www.otjonline.comand in hard copy to hospitals throughout the United Kingdom. Personal copies are available by nominal subscription.Neither the Editor or Directors of Lawrand Ltd are in any way responsible for the statements made or views expressed by the contributors. All communications in respect of advertising quotations, obtaining a rate card and supplying all editorial communications and pictures to the Editor at the PO Box address. No part of this journal may be reproduced without prior permission from Lawrand Ltd. © 2011Journal Printers: The Warwick Printing Co Ltd, Caswell Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. CV31 1QD

*New Phone Number

UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER SCIENTISTS DEPLOY SPACE-AGE TECHNOLOGIES TO DETECT ILLNESS AT

SCIENCE-FICTION STYLE SICK BAY

MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT!

A new hi-tech £1million-plus non-invasive disease detection facility, developed by the University of Leicester, has been unveiled today (Sept 1st 2011) for use in Leicester Royal In rmarys A&E department.It is designed to detect the sight, smell and feel of disease without the use of invasive probes, blood tests, or other time-consuming and uncomfortable procedures.Scientists use three different types of cutting-edge technology in combination under a range of situations. All the methods are non-invasive, and could speed up diagnosis.Scientists have surrounded a normal hospital bed with an unprecedented array of technology to examine patients: One group of instruments (developed in the Universities Chemistry Department) analyses gases present in a patients breath.A second uses imaging systems and technologies - developed to explore the universe - to hunt for signs of disease via the surface of the human body.The third uses a suite of monitors to look inside the body and measure blood- ow and oxygenation in real-time. The technologies employed in the new Leicester Diagnostics Development Unit have never previously all been used in an integrated manner and with such a large pool of patients.University of Leicester researchers from space research, emergency medicine and Chemistry, worked with colleagues in Cardiovascular Sciences, Infection, Immunity and In ammation, Physics and Astronomy, Engineering, IT Services and the Leicester Royal In rmary to create the Unit.Some of the technology in the new Unit has been originally developed for use in planetary research: in the year 2019, an international space probe is scheduled to arrive on Mars to look for life and will employ similar technologies. Some of the advanced technology and science behind the unit was developed at the University of Leicester.

Appropriately for something that comes from outer space, the technology might also be a rst step towards ultimately developing devices akin to the tricorders from Star Trek -- used by medics in the sci- series to diagnose illness simply by waving it near a patient, according to Professor Mark Sims, the University of Leicester space scientist who led the project alongside Tim Coats, Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University and head of accident and emergency at the Royal In rmary.Professor Sims said: We are replacing doctors eyes with state-of-the-art imaging systems, replacing the nose with breath analysis, and the feel of the pulse with monitoring of blood ow using ultra sound technology and measurement of blood oxygen levels.In the old days, it used to be said that a consultant could walk down a hospital ward and smell various diseases as well as telling a patients health by looking at them and feeling their pulse. What we are doing is a high tech version of that in order to help doctors to diagnose disease.Many diseases have visible effects that can be measured outside the body, whether it is a change in colour, temperature, or what organic compounds we breath out or a combination of them alongside changes in the cardio-vascular system e.g. pulse rate, blood oxygenation level. The equipment, it is hoped, can be used in diagnosis of a wide range of diseases from things like sepsis through to bacterial infections such as C. Dif cile and some cancers. The Diagnostics Development Unit has identi ed over 40 possible applications to date.Explaining how the project came about, Professor Sims said: We are developing a device called the Life Marker Chip for the ExoMars space mission. It will look for organic molecules in samples from below the surface of Mars, helping to answer a question that has been fascinating mankind for many years, is there Life today or was there Life in the past on that planet?

Developing it has involved both space technology and biology. The project therefore brought us into contact with health organisations and associated technology and helped lead to this initiative.

The researchers are using a £500,000 infrastructure grant from the Higher Education Funding Council along with a contribution from the University to equip the Unit.

Professor Sims explains that human breath contains a range of by-products (so-called volatile organic compounds) from bodily processes. Identi ed by an novel instrument called a real-time mass spectrometer, they can provide clues to a wide range of diseases. He says: An obvious example is ketones, which we detect in the breath of diabetics during hypoglycaemia. But there are also chemicals that can or could be used to indicate conditions such as asthma, sepsis, liver disease, heart disease, and several types of cancer. While gases in the breath are the main focus, the same technology can be used to analyse urine and faeces.

Sepsis is especially interesting as a target because it is hard to detect at an early stage and is a considerable burden on the NHS and is expected to exhibit a number of different effects on the body that can be detected by the combined instrumentation.

Space technology is behind the imaging equipment used to gather information from patients, using visible light wavelengths as well as invisible infra-red light.

It includes a thermal imager to see patients surface and core temperatures by imaging appropriate targets on the body. Comparing the two temperatures can reveal disease because one response to illness is to withdraw blood from peripheral parts of the body.

Other devices (multi-spectral and hyper-spectral imagers) can detect subtle changes in skin colour. Liver disease is associated with yellowing

of the skin and it is possible that this equipment could detect it before it is readily visible to the human eye. Imaging technology can also see veins close to the surface of the skin inside the body and detect whether the blood contains enough oxygen is or oxygen-poor and whether circulation in the extremities is shutting down due to medical shock etc. Also early stage bruising and skin cancers should be detectable.

Some of the monitoring equipment, for example the cardio-vascular monitors surrounding the bed, are already in use but, Professor Sims says, they are rarely combined in such a comprehensive way - normally only one such type of monitor is used at a time. Even though nearly all the technologies employed in the Unit have been used in one way or another, they have never all been used in an integrated manner and with a large pool of patients.

Ultimately in the longer term we would aim to work towards something like the tricorder device seen in futuristic science series like Star Trek. What we are developing so far is more like a rst attempt at the medical bed in the sci- series, he said.

According to Professor Coats, early disease detection often leads to better outcomes. This technology could make for quicker and more patient-speci c diagnoses.

He says: I am a specialist in emergency medicine and we are starting the project in this area. But it could also be valuable elsewhere in hospitals and in GP surgeries and perhaps even in a future generation of ambulances. We are talking to industrial partners who might get involved in commercialising this work as the project matures.

Professor Sims added: It is hard to predict how this work will develop. But ten years from now it could be routine for diagnostic technology to be combined in this way.

More information at:www.le.ac.uk/ddu

4 THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL www.otjonline.com

After the stress phase, both the focused concentration and the ability of the volunteers to multitask were measured. The results show that the scientists were able to identify signi cant differences in the reaction time and error rate associated with the two clothing systems. The volunteers who were provided with high-quality reusable clothing generally performed better in the test than those wearing simple disposable clothing. This was re ected rstly in a quicker reaction time to optical and acoustic stimuli and secondly in a lower error rate. Both parameters have a crucial effect on performance and so, potentially, on the success of a surgical intervention.

This textile-related factor has not been considered before, but in real life it could make the vital difference between the success and failure of an operation.

STARKSTROM’S NEW MRI CHAMBER – A MAGNETIC ATTRACTIONMRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is arguably the greatest advance in diagnostic medical techniques to have taken place in the last century. An MRI scan works by scanning a body part and taking hundreds of images. The computer is then able to reconstruct all the scans into a single 3D image, allowing complete and remarkable visualization of the body area and pinpointing event the smallest abnormality. As part of its commitment to medical design and innovation, Starkstrom has added an MRI Chamber to its already extensive portfolio, extending its expertise beyond the con nes of the critical care and operating theatre areas, still providing the same high standards of equipment and after sales support that customers have come to expect from a trusted supplier.

The Starkstrom MRI Chamber features a unique dimmable LED light system designed speci cally for the MRI, which eliminates strobe effects and is 60% more ef cient than other lighting systems, thus reducing power usage and costs. Research carried out in conjunction with the National Physics Laboratory has led to the use of more effective material in magnetic eld shielding, and new quench thermal insulation material has improved performance but reduced risk, protecting personnel and equipment from contact with extremely cold piping.

The company has also developed a new computer modelling programme for magnetic eld shielding; this ensures that unnecessary costs are not incurred through “over engineering” and that potential issues with adjacent equipment are identi ed before installation. The chamber has already been installed at several major PFI projects including Barts and the London Hospitals, and the Royal Victoria In rmary and Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

As with all Starkstrom’s products, the MRI chamber can be purchased “supply only”, or as part of a total turnkey project. Whichever option is taken, customers will bene t from advice right from the start on issues such as adverse effects on other equipment which may be created by the MRI scanner, and resulting impact on construction programmes. Customers opting for the turnkey solution, which incorporates the MRI room, emergency quench, magnetic eld and nal testing, will receive an MRI installation featuring elements all provided by one trusted specialist - Starkstrom’s unique capacity to do this is part of what sets it above the competition. In addition, all elements of the chamber are manufactured in the UK – Starkstrom prides itself on designing and assembling almost all its equipment in the UK, celebrating the skills of UK workers and safeguarding jobs now and for the future.

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When responding to articles please quote ‘OTJ’

Disposable or reusable clothing in the operating theatre? – The brain prefers reusable !Hohenstein researchers study the effect of operating theatre clothing on surgeons’ ability to concentrate

Working in the operating theatre calls for maximum concentration - and often for several hours at a time. That is why, in a commissioned project that hasnow been completed, researchers at the Hohenstein Institute looked at the question of the effect that the clothing worn in the operating theatre has on the surgeons’ ability to concentrate. The Hohenstein researchers used a computer-based occupational psychology test which enabled them to measure and record the ability of the surgeons to concentrate. This means that for the rst time it was possible to assess the effect of clothing systems on the performance of their wearers not simply from secondary data but by directly measuring their mental abilities in a realistic simulation of the actual work that goes on in the operating theatre.

For their own protection and to protect the patient, surgeons at work wear special operating theatre clothes which have to meet certain standard requirements (e.g. EN ISO 13795). For example, an operating theatre coat must provide an effective barrier against blood and bacteria. At the same time, this protective clothing must hinder the surgeon as little as possible in his work, because in the operating theatre the safety of the patient always takes precedence. Hospitals currently employ two different strategies. Some institutions use disposable operating theatre clothing, which is destroyed after each use,

while in other hospitals surgeons wear reusable clothing systems which are cleaned after being worn. When operating theatre clothing is being selected, its effect on the work of the wearer, and therefore on patient safety, should be the top priority, along with ecological and economical aspects.

The volunteers in the joint study by the Hohenstein Institute and two companies from Switzerland, the textile manufacturer ROTECNO AG and HÄLG TEXTIL AG, which specialises in operating theatre textiles, experienced for themselves just how tiring highly focused concentration over a long period can be for the surgeons. They emerged completely exhausted from the simulated operating theatre, which was kept at a pleasantly cool temperature. “Maintaining one’s concentration for several hours is a tremendous physical and mental strain which can be greatly in uenced by external parameters like clothing,” said Prof. Dirk Höfer, Head of the Institute for Hygiene and Biotechnology at Hohenstein.

That is why the researchers measured whether the reaction speed and error rate for the “volunteer surgeons” were affected by wearing disposable or reusable clothing in operating theatre conditions. First of all, the volunteers had to perform a challenging microsurgical task requiring a lot of concentration, in a specially developed “Stressbox”.

Now, thanks to the Hohenstein test system, reliable data can be collected about the effect of textiles on mental performance which can be used to provide a scienti c basis for decision-making by hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry and also by the armed forces, professional athletes and the aviation industry. The results also point to an urgent need for further research. Especially in jobs with a high degree of responsibility, existing clothing systems should be tested with regard to mental performance, and improved with that speci c purpose.

Contact address for more information: Prof. Dirk Höfer, Institute for Hygiene and Biotechnology at the Hohenstein InstituteEmail: [email protected] www.hohenstein.de and http://ihb.hohenstein.de

The utmost concentration is required in the operating theatre. Operating theatre clothing can have a crucial effect on it. Photo: iStock


HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY RAPID REVIEW PANEL GIVES HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION FOR THE INCLUSION OF CHLORAPREP®

WITH TINT IN NHS INFECTION CONTROL PROTOCOLS

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) Rapid Review Panel (RRP) have issued the results of their evaluation on the use of ChloraPrep® with Tint in surgery to help reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs), giving ChloraPrep with Tint its highest recommendation, a ‘Recommendation 1.’

A Recommendation 1 means the NHS should include ChloraPrep in their preoperative skin preparation infection control protocols, as appropriate.1

The new HPA guidance is in light of a study published in 2010 in the New England Journal of Medicine. In the study, there were 41 percent fewer infections in patients cleansed with ChloraPrep with Tint, compared with those cleansed with povidone-iodine2 – one of the most commonly used skin antiseptics in UK hospitals. The ef cacy and safety of ChloraPrep is supported by more than 14 peer-reviewed studies and recommendations by multiple internationally recognized organizations or guidelines. This includes the Department of Health’s newly released guidance document High Impact Intervention ‘Care Bundle’ for Preventing Surgical Site Infections, which speci es the use of 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol.3

Mr. Deshpande, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at King’s College Hospital, London said, “Our own initial use of ChloraPrep has shown marked reductions in the incidence of SSI compared with traditional skin prep techniques, and we are continuing our research into larger number of patients to demonstrate the true size of effect on SSI incidence”.

SSIs are among the most serious and life-threatening hospital infections, affecting one in 20 patients4, undergoing surgery in the UK. It has been reported that over one-third of postoperative deaths are related, at least in part, to SSIs.4 They can occur when microorganisms naturally found on the skin of a patient enter the body during the surgical procedure. This is particularly dangerous in the case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) – one of the most common bugs implicated in SSIs.5 Patients with SSIs are at least twice as likely to die following surgery,6 and stay at least twice as long in hospital with costs more than doubling compared to uninfected patients.7

ChloraPrep and ChloraPrep with Tint are the only 2 percent chlorhexidine based medicines licensed by the MHRA for the disinfection of skin prior to invasive medical procedures. This allows health care professionals to comply with evidence-based guidelines and recognised best practice for reducing HCAIs .

1) http://www.hpa.org.uk/ProductsServices/InfectiousDiseases/ServicesActivities/ RapidReviewPanel/RRPLatestReports/ 2) Darouiche RO et al. N Engl J Med 2010;362: 18-23) http://hcai.dh.gov.uk/ les/2011/03/2011-03-14-HII-Prevent-Surgical-Site- infection-FINAL.pdf (accessed 20th July 2011) 4) NICE 2008, Prevention and Treatment of Surgical Site Infection, October 20085) Health Protection Agency. Surveillance of Healthcare-Associated Infections Report 2008.6) Kirkland KB et al. The impact of surgical site infections in the 1990s: attributable mortality, excess length of hospitalization and extra costs. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 1999;20:725-730.7) Broex ECJ et al. J Hosp Infect 2009; 72: 193-201 Please quote ‘OTJ’


NEWS FROM TUTELAPRIVATE HOSPITALS OPT FOR TUTELA SYSTEM

A new refrigeration monitoring system is being installed in one of London’s leading private hospital groups which has a number of blood transfusion centres, including several in The Harley Street vicinity, reputedly the world’s most famous address for medical services.

Tutela, from Hampshire-based Next Control Systems, has been incorporated into HCA International’s prestigious addresses including The Harley Street Clinic, The Princess Grace Hospital, The Portland Women and Children’s Hospital, London Bridge Hospital, The Lister Hospital, The Wellington and The HCA Laboratories. The systems are used within pharmacies, clinical trials, theatres and blood transfusion units.

Tutela is a real-time monitoring system for controlled environments utilising a fully manned 24 hour temperature recording and alarm service which automatically issues alarms via a manned call centre whenever temperature or communications to the site fails.

Tutela offers a very easy to use private website along with constant communication updates to ensure that stock is monitored 24/7.

HCA International serves over 300,000 patients per year offering services in and around London for patients of all ages and treat everything from the most straightforward conditions to the most complex and often life threatening illnesses.

Across the HCA International Group, Next Controls is installing a total of 96 sensors to monitor and alert refrigeration for the blood banks, pathology laboratories, dispensing and aseptic pharmacies, clinical trials, operating theatres and the oncology centre. The Tutela system monitors much more than just temperature, as testi ed by the aseptic pharmacy production unit where the monitoring of positive air pressure, pressure differentials and particle counting takes place in areas where pharmaceuticals are prepared.

Many of the tissue and other samples in store are irreplaceable and temperatures monitored vary from -80 C to +25 C.

Tutela is a fully compliant and fully validated monitoring solution that meets all current and known future regulatory requirements at the HCA International Group. It has been tested through many MHRA, CPA and HTA inspections and has always proved to be a popular choice across the board due to it’s high level of documentation and regulatory expertise.

With no on-site computer hardware or software, it cuts costs by eliminating the need for expensive manual recording, relying instead on an easy-to-use web site interface which is “future proof”.

Validation of the system at HCA is currently being completed where it has DQ, IQ & OQ documentation linked to Tutela/Next Control System’s international Alarm Monitoring Bureau which is fully manned round the clock.

At a very competitive cost this Tutela Monitoring system is one of the largest to be installed so far by Next Control Systems.

Sally Towle, Tutela for Next Control Systems, 6 Farnborough Business Centre, Eelmoor Road, Farnborough Hants. GU14 7XA. Tel. 01252 406398. Fax. 01252 406401. Direct Line. 07909 751427.www.hcainternational.com


An App a Day - Andrew Lansley launches a call for ideas for new health apps and maps

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley recently launched a call for new ideas for health apps that would help patients make informed decisions about their care.

Everyone, including patients, doctors, nurses and other health professionals and app developers, is invited to submit new ideas of health apps and online maps they think would be useful. One leading example of an app that bene ts patients is Choosing Well, developed by NHS Yorkshire & Humber for their local community, which allows people to search for their nearest NHS health services.

As part of this drive for ideas, Andrew Lansley has also asked people to come forward and name their favourite existing health applications.

Speaking to patients, doctors and nurses at Evelina Childrens Hospital in London today, Andrew Lansley said:

We want to give people better access to information that will put them in control of their health and help make informed choices about their healthcare.Over the next six weeks, we want to hear from patients, health professionals and budding app developers on their ideal new app. This is a unique opportunity for the NHS and those who develop apps to not only showcase their work but bring to life new ideas and realise true innovation in healthcare.

Mr Lansley also announced the panel of judges who would choose the best apps to be showcased at an event in autumn:

Im pleased to have such in uential panel members representing the NHS, patients and clinicians as well as technology and those who support entrepreneurs. Innovation is what will help us create a more modern and personalised NHS for patients.

The panel of judges includes:• Dr Shaibal Roy, a doctor at the National Institute for Health Research who

champions the use of digital technology in healthcare; • Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director and supporter of helping patients

get access to transparent information about hospitals and their health; • Julie Meyer, online Dragons Den judge, nurturer of talent and CEO of

Ariadne Capital; and • Jennie Ritchie-Campbell, Director of Cancer Services Innovation at charity

Macmillan Cancer Support.

Dr Shaibal Roy, doctor at the National Institute for Health Research, said: “I’m proud to be part of this call for ideas from patients, their families, the public and frontline health care professionals. Useful and easy to use smartphone apps and information maps will surely support both patients and clinicians in their shared decisions to improve outcomes.

I hope this work will help the NHS understand completely new ways to help improve outcomes for individuals and their families. There are inspiring apps and incredible ideas that have never before been gathered and shared nationally. We hope to accomplish this quickly, and in doing so, build a community of champions to explore this particular view of the future.”

Dr Ian Abbs, Medical Director at Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, which Evelina Childrens Hospital is a part of, said:

“Our staff are already realising the bene ts of medical apps and have developed a number of these which are proving popular with the medical community. Some of our apps are already European best sellers, and provide instant access to the most up-to-date guidance on topics including patient safety, thrombosis and paediatric drug calculations all at the touch of a button.

The possibility of apps helping to improve patient care is enormous and we are already seeing examples of their success in, for example, emergency situations, where clinicians can now quickly and accurately double check complex drug dose calculations.

The Health Secretary tested out a number of existing health apps along with patients, clinicians and panel members, including one developed by NHS Southampton, which gives practical support to clinicians when treating patients with infections and a Breakthrough Breast Cancer iBreastCheck app whose simple informative guide helps women check for breast abnormalities.

For the next six weeks, people can visit www.mapsandapps.dh.gov.uk and suggest favourite apps, ideas for apps or health maps they would like to see, as well as vote for their favourite ideas submitted by others.


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A new generation of small ultrasound systems now available from Fukuda Denshi

Fukuda Denshi is a leading supplier of advanced patient monitoring and user-con gurable clinical information management systems, as well as cardiac monitoring and imaging technology. The company is pleased to announce the arrival of their new generation of small ultrasound systems, the UF-760AG.

The UF-760AG is a small system with big innovation. Its high image quality helps with earlier disease detection, more accurate diagnosis and less invasive treatments. It’s highly compact and weighs less than 7kg, yet can hold over an hour’s worth of battery charge.

With hypersensitive Pulsed and Continuous Doppler, this compact ultrasound system offers excellent performance combined with superior image quality making it the ideal choice for all point-of-care environments such as emergency rooms, ambulances, outpatients and even the sports eld!

The UF-760AG is supplied with two probes, and features a wide range of features and options, including:

• Cardio Package (including Anatomical M-mode)• CW• Stress Echo• Trapezoidal Imaging• Easy Optim• Spatial Compounding• 3D/4D• Long Cine Loop• DICOM MWL, Store SCU

For more information on the Fukuda Denshi UF-760AG portable ultrasound system, contact Fukuda Denshi on 01483 728065.

Fukuda Denshi: Healthcare bound by technology.

The Fukuda Denshi UF-760AG portable ultrasound system



IBM experimental chips emulate the human brain

IBM has unveiled two prototype computer chips that are said to emulate the human brain

In April, the University of Southern California made the headlines when it announced that researchers there had created a functioning synthetic synapse circuit using carbon nanotubes. Well, today IBM unveiled a new class of experimental computer chips that are designed to emulate the human brain’s abilities for perception, action and cognition. According to the company, “The technology could yield many orders of magnitude less power consumption and space than used in today’s computers.”

Utilizing advanced algorithms and silicon circuitry, the two prototype “neurosynaptic computing chips” are said to recreate the phenomena that takes place between spiking neurons and synapses in biological systems. The idea is that such chips would be used in “cognitive computers,” which would learn through experiences - like the human brain - rather than simply being programmed.

To that end, IBM has joined forces with a number of academic partners, to develop such computers through the Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics (SyNAPSE) project. According to the company, “The goal of SyNAPSE is to create a system that not only analyzes complex information from multiple sensory modalities at once, but also dynamically rewires itself as it interacts with its environment - all while rivaling the brain’s compact size and low power usage.” Phases 0 through 1 have already been completed, while the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has reportedly awarded the project US$21 million in funding for Phase 2.

The two chips themselves contain no biological components. According to the press release, however, both chips do feature 256 arti cial neurons, with one core containing 262,144 programmable synapses, and the other containing 65,536 learning synapses. In lab tests, the chips have so far been used to execute simple applications such as navigation, machine vision, pattern recognition, associative memory and classi cation.

Ultimately, IBM hopes to produce a chip system featuring ten billion neurons and hundred trillion synapses, that would consume one kilowatt of power and have a volume of less than two liters (0.5 U.S. gallons).

“Future applications of computing will increasingly demand functionality that is not ef ciently delivered by the traditional architecture,” said Dharmendra Modha, project leader for IBM Research. “Imagine traf c lights that can integrate sights, sounds and smells and ag unsafe intersections before disaster happens or imagine cognitive co-processors that turn servers, laptops, tablets, and phones into machines that can interact better with their environments.”

Partners in Phase 2 of SyNAPSE include Columbia University, Cornell University, the University of California at Merced, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Source: gizmag Ben Coxworth

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d in t

he Sou

thwes

t, betw

een D

artmoo

r Nati

onal

Park an

d a sp

ectac

ular

coas

tline,

Plymou

th is

a vibr

ant a

nd hi

storic

city

that o

ffers

excit

emen

t, bea

utiful

surro

undin

gs an

d a w

onde

rful q

uality

of lif

e.

Our Card

iotho

racic

Centre

is a

sourc

e of p

ride f

or the

Trus

t and

regio

n with

its

growing

inter

natio

nal re

putat

ion an

d sup

erb fa

cilitie

s, cre

ated b

y the

rece

nt

comple

tion o

f a tr

uly in

nova

tive n

ew bu

ild.

Due to

inter

nal p

romoti

ons w

e are

seek

ing hi

gh ca

libre

nursi

ng st

aff to

join

our

team. T

o be s

ucce

ssful

, you

mus

t be c

ommitte

d to h

elping

us de

liver e

xcelle

nt

stand

ards o

f surg

ical h

ealth

to th

e peo

ple of

the S

outh

West, a

nd to

contr

ibute

to the

furth

er de

velop

ment o

f the n

ation

al an

d inte

rnatio

nal s

tandin

g of o

ur un

it.

In ret

urn, y

ou w

ill en

joy be

ing pa

rt of

a flex

ible a

nd fr

iendly

team

, a fir

st cla

ss

working

envir

onmen

t, a co

mmitmen

t to he

lping

you a

chiev

e you

r ambit

ions,

and a

n arra

y of g

enero

us st

aff be

nefits

We offe

r Prec

eptor

ship

for ne

wly qu

alifie

d prac

tition

ers.

For in

formal

enqu

iries o

r for

visits

plea

se co

ntact

Sr. Jea

n Hob

son,

Thea

tre M

anag

er, on

01752 763 853

Please

apply onlin

e at www.jo

bs.nhs.u

k quoting

216-Mer-2

284-Card

iac5a.

Closing date

for applic

ations:

27 July

2008.

Plymou

th Hos

pitals

NHS Tr

ust is

an eq

ual o

pport

unitie

s emplo

yer a

nd is

working

toward

s a sm

oke-f

ree w

orking

envir

onmen

t. Und

er the

Trus

t’s

Green C

ommute

r Stra

tegy,

on si

te pa

rking

is re

strict

ed.

Working

in pa

rtners

hip w

ith th

e Pen

insula

Med

ical S

choo

l

We’l

l take c

are of

you

www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk

New Zealand

ODPS

Come for a year or im

migrate

permanently

! We work with

the best

surgical units and Distr

ict Health

Boards in

New Zealand.

We have a number of great career o

pportunitie

s for qualifi e

d

and experienced ODPs.

Contact Medacs H

ealthcare to

day to learn more about th

e

vacancies available in th

e North and South Isl

and – so you

choose your destinatio

n!

Medacs can offer you:

• Full a

ssistance with

registratio

n and immigratio

n

• Arra

ngement of accommodatio

n and travel bookings

• Advice and assis

tance on many aspects of m

oving to a

new city or country

.

We reply within 24 hours s

o call us to

day!

Contact the te

am today on tel: +

64 9 630 1769

or email your C

V to: in

[email protected]

www.medacs.co.nz

Make your move toMake your move to

New Zealand!New Zealand!

Based in the City of Sails, Auckland District Health Board is one of the

leading public healthcare providers within New Zealand.

We have over 32 operating theatres (adult and paediatrics) covering

neurosurgery, cardiothoracic, transplants, vascular, ophthalmology,

general, urology, orthopaedics, ORL (including major head and neck

surgery), obstetrics and gynaecology. We are looking for skilled and

enthusiastic Registered Nurses and Anaesthetic Technicians looking to

relocate to our beautiful country.

Auckland City Hospital is a major teaching hospital, offering a

supportive environment for education and learning.

Senior Clinicians will be in London to interview applicants in May 2008.

Contact us now to book your time to speak directly with our Clinicians.

For more information, please contact Michelle on

[email protected] or call + 64 9 638 0364.

Relocation assistance will be offered to all successful

applicants (conditions apply).

http://www.adhb.govt.nz/careers/ Calling all Anaesthetic Technicians & Registered Nurses

Calling all Anaesthetic Technicians & Registered Nurses

Theatres

We deliver theatre

services across the Trust fr

om the six th

eatre suites th

at make up th

e Theatres Care Group. There are 26

theatres (2

1 inpatient theatre

s, five re

covery areas and five day surgery th

eatres). O

ur aim is to

provide the highest q

uality

environment to enable surgeons to provide excellent surgical care. Due to our in

creasing workload, we are expanding our te

am,

which offers you a wide variety of experience, including cardiac and neuro. Our dedicated team actively seeks to develop our staff

and their s

kills. In

return for your hard work we offer a wide range of o

pportunitie

s for professional development and fu

rther

training both in-house, via our post-g

rad centre, and the University of Kingston.

Cardiac Theatre

s

Theatre Pra

ctitioners

–

Surgical S

crub

Band 5, £23,619 - £

30,508 pa inc

Ref: 200-S

JKD-17

9-KR

In our state of the art b

uilding, we undertake 4,000 neurosurgical

and cardiothoracic procedures each year with excellent clinical

results. You’ll be enthusiastic and enjoy the challenge of m

ajor

surgery. You’ll in

itially be based in one set of th

eatres but rotation

is encouraged.

Theatre Pra

ctitioners

–

Surgical S

crub

Band 6, £28,149 - £

37,558 pa inc

Ref: 200-S

JKD-180-K

R

In addition to the requirement fo

r the band 5 post, y

ou’ll need

experience in either neurosurgical or cardiothoracic specialties.

You’ll be an advanced scrub practiti

oner, either nurse or O

DP,

as well as excellent communication skills

and the ability to work

as part of a team. Your d

uties will include partic

ipation in an

on-call rota once competent.

For an informal discussion about the above posts, please contact

Andrew Prescott on 020 8725 14

92.

Neuro Theatre

s

Theatre Pra

ctitioners

-

Surgical S

crub &

Anaesthetic

s

Band 5, £23,619 - £

30,508 pa inc

Ref: 200-S

JAA-183-K

R

A scrub/anaesthetic practitioner, e

ither Nurse or O

DP, you’ll

strengthen and support o

ur current te

am to provide a valuable

contribution to the provision of high quality

care to our patients.


Andrew Prescott on 020 8725 14

92.

Inpatie

nt Recovery

Theatre Pra

ctitioners

Band 5, £23,619 - £

30,508 pa inc

Post ref: 2

00-SJJD

-185-KR

You’ll provide essential care and support t

o patients in th

e

recovery area, as well as clinical support a

nd leadership in the

absence of more senior staff. R

otation to all areas is expected

and you’ll preferably have experience in Recovery/HDU/ITU care,

although full training will b

e available. Paediatric qualific

ations

and/or experience are highly desirable.

For an informal discussion, please contact Derek Reid

on 020 8725 3509.

Inpatie

nt Theatre

s

We have vacancies for the following specialties where we

can offer you a wide variety of experience in: ENT and

Maxillo-facial, U

rology, Gynaecology, O

bstetrics, Plastic surgery

and Orthopaedics.

You’ll be either a nurse or O

DP.

Theatre Pra

ctitioners

–

Surgical S

crub &

Anaesthetic

s

Band 5, £23,619 - £

30,508 pa inc

Ref: 200-S

JJE-181-K

R

Advanced Theatre Pra

ctitioners

- Surg

ical Scru

b

Band 6, £28,149 - £

37,558 pa inc

Ref: 200-S

JJE-182-K

R

You’ll be an advanced scrub practiti

oner, either nurse or O

DP.

For an informal discussion, please contact A

lberto Castril

lon

on 020 8725 2129 or Maggie Savage on 020 8725 1958.

Day Surgery

Theatre Pra

ctitioners

–

Surgical S

crub, A

naesthetic

s

& Recovery

Band 5, £23,619 - £

30,508 pa inc

Ref: 200-S

JLA-184-KR

Our busy stand-alone Day Surgery Unit comprises five operating

theatres, re

covery and a pre-assessment centre, w

hich serves

both adult and paediatric

patients.

We undertake elective and tra

uma work and our theatre

practitioners rotate between theatre

s and recovery. You’ll b

e a

scrub/anaesthetic practitioners, either nurse or O

DP.

For an informal discussion, please contact Cathie Stirling

on 020 8725 0223.

Please apply online at

www.stgeorg

es.nhs.uk

Closing date for all posts: 3 July 2008.

Interview date: w/c 21 July 2008.

Please note this vacancy will c

lose before the advertis

ed

closing date if suffic

ient suitable applications are received.

We are an equal opportunitie

s employer.

www.stgeorg

es.nhs.uk

Bedford Hospital

NHS Trust

Let’s get you

working!

ODPs & Theatre Nurses

As a specialist agency our knowledgeable consultants

understand your needs.

• Excellent rates of pay

• Regular work

• Flexible hours to suit you

• Recommendation bonus

We have exclusive contracts with NHS Trusts

and Private Hospitals with immediate starts.

For more information contact the Theatre

Staff Recruitment Specialists near you:

London - 0845 1305150

Midlands - 08457 23 24 25

NW & Yorks - 0845 1306209

www.firstpointhealthcare.com

SOLEprovider

to Vanguard

Healthcare

Mobile Operating

Theatres

Face To Face Interviews In April With

Prestigious Auckland Hospital, New Zealand

Secure your new role and new life now for 2008

MercyAscot and Geneva Health International are coming to the UK this April to interview and

offer jobs to skilled and professional Registered Operating Department Practitioners

and Theatre and Recovery Nurses with a goal to live and work in New Zealand.

The private sector in New Zealand offers you the best of the best in terms of facilities,

surgeons, procedures and opportunities. As New Zealand’s largest private surgical

facilities, with state-of-the-art hospitals based in Auckland, MercyAscot offers a diverse

range of surgical specialities and a supportive, top-rate team.

As a RODP or Theatre/Recovery Nurse in MercyAscot you will have the opportunity

to scrub and assist in a variety of procedures, working alongside New Zealand’s top

surgeons and theatre staff.

Ideally if will you have a minimum of 24 months current RODP experience within

a Theatre Suite/OR and have your sights on New Zealand, then MercyAscot is the

organisation for you.

MercyAscot are offering an excellent relocation package (some conditions apply) to all

successful candidates, and Geneva Health are here to support your move every step

of the way.

To book your interview

contact Julia Johnson on

freephone 0800 404 7591

email [email protected]

or register online at

www.genevahealth.co.nz

OPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTITIONER

The Gibraltar Health Authority is looking for an enthusiastic and highly

motivated Operating Department Practitioner.

Candidates must feel comfortable working in a busy Operating Department

that provides a comprehensive range of surgical services such as General,

Urology, Obs & Gynae, Ophthalmic, ENT, Dentals, Maxillo-Facial, Plastic,

Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery.

The above appointment will be on contract terms for one-year and salary

dependable on experience ranges from £15,964 to £20,202 per annum*.

Additionally a tax-free gratuity of 25% of basic salary earned during

employment is payable on satisfactory completion of contract. Passages are

payable in full and transportation of personal effects and accommodation are

subsidised. Further details on the above post are obtainable from the Deputy Director of

Nursing Services on Tel: 00-350-72266 ext 2313.

For an Application Pack contact the GHA’s Recruitment Section, Gibraltar

Health Authority, St Bernard’s Hospital, Gibraltar on (Tel: 00-350-200-72266

ext 2081) (Fax: 00-350-200-43864) or (e.mail: [email protected])

Closing Date: 31 st March 2008 *Please note that these are 2006 figures, as 2007/08

Pay scales are currently under negotiation.

GIBRALTAR HEALTH AUTHORITY

Face To Face In

terviews I

n April

With

Prestigious A

uckland H

ospita

l, New Zealand

Secure your n

ew role and new lif

e in 2008

MercyA

scot an

d Geneva

Health

Internati

onal a

re com

ing to the U

K this A

pril to in

tervie

w and

offer

jobs t

o skill

ed an

d prof

ession

al Regist

ered Operating Departm

ent Practi

tioners

and Theatre

and Recovery

Nurses w

ith a

goal to

live a

nd work in

New Zea

land.

The priv

ate se

ctor in

New Zea

land of

fers y

ou th

e best

of th

e best

in te

rms o

f facili

ties,

surgeo

ns, proc

edures

and op

portunitie

s. As N

ew Z

ealan

d’s lar

gest p

rivate

surgica

l

faciliti

es, with

state

-of-th

e-art h

ospita

ls base

d in Auckl

and, M

ercyA

scot o

ffers

a dive

rse

range o

f surgica

l spec

ialitie

s and a

support

ive, to

p-rate

team.

As a RODP or

Theatre/Recove

ry Nurse

in M

ercyA

scot y

ou w

ill have

the o

pportunity

to scr

ub and as

sist in

a var

iety o

f proc

edures

, work

ing alon

gside N

ew Zea

land’s

top

surgeo

ns and th

eatre

staff

.

Ideally yo

u will

have a m

inimum of 2

4 months c

urrent R

ODP experie

nce w

ithin a

Theatre S

uite/O

R and have yo

ur sights

on New Zealand, t

hen Mercy

Ascot is

the

organisatio

n for y

ou.

MercyA

scot a

re off

ering an

exce

llent re

locati

on pac

kage (

some c

onditio

ns apply)

to all

succe

ssful c

andidate

s, an

d Gen

eva Hea

lth ar

e here

to su

pport yo

ur move

every

step

of the w

ay.

To b

ook your inte

rview

contact J

ulia Johnson o

n

freephone 0800 404 7591

email j

uliaj@

genevahealth

.com

or registe

r onlin

e at

www.genevahealth

.co.nz

Tele

phone: 0870 3

33 8312

Websit

e: www.o

rion-lo

cums.com

Fax:

01268 2

44399

email:

adm

in@

orion-lo

cums.com

License

d by

Com

miss

ion fo

r Socia

l Care

Insp

ection

Orio

n Locum

s is a

n Equal O

pportunitie

s Em

ploye

r

Imm

ediate

Long Te

rm v

acanciesDay

rate

s

up to £

35/hr

We u

rgently

need st

aff fo

r

long te

rm a

nd ad h

oc posts

in

Surre

y

London

Suffo

lk

Kent

Mancheste

r & N

W

Esse

x

Suss

ex

Northam

pton

Call

now fo

r up to

date

Natio

nal vacancie

s

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is an aspiring Foundation Trust that works in close partnership with the University

Situated in the South West, between Dartmoor National Park and a spectacular coastline, Plymouth is a vibrant

beautiful surroundings and a wonderful quality of life.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Cardiothoracic Centre is a source of pride for the Trust and region with its growin

facilities, created by the recent completion of a truly innovative new build.

Due to internal promotions we are seeking high calibre nursing staff at Band 5 and Band 6 to join our team. You

excellent standards of surgical health to the people of the South West, and contribute to the further developmen

our unit. In return, you will enjoy being part of a flexible and friendly team, a first class working environment, an

a committment to helping you achieve your ambitions.

For informal enquiries or to arrange a visit please contact Sr Jean Hobson, Theatre Manager on 01752 763

For further particulars and to apply please visit our website: www.plymouthhospitals.nh

Closing date: Monday, 7th April 2008

Interview date: Tuesday, 22nd April 2008.

W

www.plym

outhhosp

itals.org

.uk

Band 5 Scrub Practitioners

Ref: 216-MER-2284-CARDIAC5

based patient care with the ability to support and supervise the

learning of others

Band 6 Scrub P

Team Leader

Ref: 216-MER-2285

to the theatre team.

Medic International is part of Pinnacle

Healthcare, one of the largest suppliers

of specialist nurses and theatre staff

to the NHS and private sector.

We urgently require:

ODPs & Theatre Nurses;

Scrub, Anaesthetic & Recovery

On-going placements UK wide

Contracted supplier to NHS Scotland

Excellent rates of pay

Call Allison on 0844 736 00280 for a chat,

or e-mail [email protected]

www.pinnacle-staffing-group.co.uk

As part of a m

ajor development of surgic

al facilit

ies at the

College, including skills

labs and minimal a

ccess surgery

suites, we are

opening a mock o

perating th

eatre to help

train surgeons an

d surgical te

ams for th

e future.

You will join a h

ighly-regard

ed team in the setup, running

and setdown of courses in

the theatre, minimal a

ccess

and skills lab, using simulato

rs,models,

animal and

cadaveric t

issue.

You will have worked in an operatin

g theatre

as an ODP

(or ODA), although the role could be open to other

theatre sta

ff with appropriate

experience.

For further in

formation on this ro

le and to apply

please visit o

ur website

or email

humanresources@rcse

ng.ac.uk

quoting reference 25/08.

Closing date: 12th May.

We are an

employer fully

committed to our equality

and diversity policie

s.

Registere

d charity

No. 212808

www.rcseng.ac

.uk

Surgical R

esources

Technician

£24,800 + Excellent Benefits

C. London

bblicaation.

nisatio

n f

rcyAsco

t are

offeri

ng an e

uccessf

ul can

didates,

and G

of the w

ay.

TToTooo bbbbbbooooookok your i

ntie

ervie

cccoooononnnntnttaacact J

ulia Johnso

fffrfrrereeeeeeeppphone 0800 404

eeeeememmmma

maail j

uliaj@

geneva

ooooororr rregiste

r onlin

e a

wwwwwwww.genevahealt

College, includ g

suites, we are

opening a mock o

p

train surgeons an

d surgical te

ams for th

e future.

You will join a h

ighly-regard

ed team in the setup, running

and setdown of courses in

the theatre, minimal a

ccess

and skills lab, using simulato

rs,models,

animal and

cadaveric t

issue.

You will have worked in an operatin

g theatre

as an ODP


theatre sta

ff with appropriate

experience.

For further in

formation on this ro

le and to apply

please visit o

ur website

or email

humanresources@rcse

ng.ac.uk



We are an

employer fully

committed to our


s.

Registere

d charity

No. 212808

www.rcsJune/July 2009 Issue No. 225

ISSN 1747-728X

www.lawrand.com

For advertiser rates & information

or

www.otjonline.com

For reader information, including

subscription & downloads

The OTJ is a Lawrand Ltd, Publication.

www.

operatingtheatrejobs.com

For online Recruitment advertising

Cardiothoracic Theatres

Registered

Theatre Practitioners

R/Ns O.D.Ps

Salary in acc

ordance with agenda for

change guidelines.

Plymouth Hospita

ls NHS Trust is an aspiri

ng Foundatio

n Trust that

works in close

partnership w

ith the Univers

ity of Plymouth’s

Medical and N

ursing Schools

.

Situated in the

Southwest, be

tween Dartmoor Nationa

l Park and a sp

ectacular

coastline, Plymouth is

a vibrant an

d historic city

that offers e

xcitement, be

autiful

surroundings

and a wonderf

ul quality of

life.

Our Cardiothoracic

Centre is a so

urce of pride

for the Trus

t and region

with its

growing internatio

nal reputation

and superb

facilities, crea

ted by the re

cent

completion of a t

ruly innovati

ve new build.

Due to interna

l promotions

we are seekin

g high calibr

e nursing sta

ff to join our

team. To be succe

ssful, you m

ust be committed to

helping us d

eliver excelle

nt

standards of

surgical hea

lth to the pe

ople of the S

outh West, an

d to contribut

e

to the furthe

r development of

the national

and internat

ional standin

g of our uni

t.

In return, you

will enjoy bein

g part of a f

lexible and f

riendly team, a firs

t class

working enviro

nment, a commitment to

helping you achi

eve your am

bitions,

and an array

of generous

staff benefi

ts

We offer Precept

orship for ne

wly qualified p

ractitioners.

For informal enq

uiries or for

visits please

contact Sr. Jean

Hobson,

Theatre Manage

r, on 01752 763 853

Please apply online at www.jobs.nhs.uk quoting

216-Mer-2284-Cardiac5a.

Closing date for applications: 27 July 2008.

Plymouth Hospita

ls NHS Trust is an e

qual opportu

nities employer

and is

working towards a

smoke-free working

environment. U

nder the Tru

st’s

Green Commuter S

trategy, on s

ite parking is

restricted.

Working in par

tnership with the Peninsu

la Medical School

We’ll ta

ke care o

f you

www.plym

outhhosp

itals.nhs

.uk

New Zealand

ODPS

Come for a year or immigrate

permanently! We work with the best

surgical units and District Health Boards in

New Zealand.

We have a number of great career opportunities for qualifi ed

and experienced ODPs.

Contact Medacs Healthcare today to learn more about the

vacancies available in the North and South Island – so you

choose your destination!

Medacs can offer you:

• Full assistance with registration and immigration

• Arrangement of accommodation and travel bookings

• Advice and assistance on many aspects of moving to a

new city or country.

We reply within 24 hours so call us today!

Contact the team today on tel: +64 9 630 1769

or email your CV to: [email protected]

www.medacs.co.nz

Make your move toMake your move to

New Zealand!New Zealand!

Based in the City of Sails, Auckland District Health Board is one of the

leading public healthcare providers within New Zealand.

We have over 32 operating theatres (adult and paediatrics) covering

neurosurgery, cardiothoracic, transplants, vascular, ophthalmology,

general, urology, orthopaedics, ORL (including major head and neck

surgery), obstetrics and gynaecology. We are looking for skilled and

enthusiastic Registered Nurses and Anaesthetic Technicians looking to

relocate to our beautiful country.

Auckland City Hospital is a major teaching hospital, offering a

supportive environment for education and learning.

Senior Clinicians will be in London to interview applicants in May 2008.

Contact us now to book your time to speak directly with our Clinicians.

For more information, please contact Michelle on

[email protected] or call + 64 9 638 0364.

Relocation assistance will be offered to all successful

applicants (conditions apply).

http://www.adhb.govt.nz/careers/ Calling all Anaesthetic Technicians & Registered Nurses

Calling all Anaesthetic Technicians & Registered Nurses

Theatres

We deliver theatre services across the Trust from the six theatre suites that make up the Theatres Care Group. There are 26

theatres (21 inpatient theatres, five recovery areas and five day surgery theatres). Our aim is to provide the highest quality

environment to enable surgeons to provide excellent surgical care. Due to our increasing workload, we are expanding our team,

which offers you a wide variety of experience, including cardiac and neuro. Our dedicated team actively seeks to develop our staff

and their skills. In return for your hard work we offer a wide range of opportunities for professional development and further

training both in-house, via our post-grad centre, and the University of Kingston.

Cardiac Theatres

Theatre Practitioners –

Surgical Scrub

Band 5, £23,619 - £30,508 pa inc

Ref: 200-SJKD-179-KR

In our state of the art building, we undertake 4,000 neurosurgical

and cardiothoracic procedures each year with excellent clinical

results. You’ll be enthusiastic and enjoy the challenge of major

surgery. You’ll initially be based in one set of theatres but rotation

is encouraged.


Surgical Scrub

Band 6, £28,149 - £37,558 pa inc

Ref: 200-SJKD-180-KR

In addition to the requirement for the band 5 post, you’ll need

experience in either neurosurgical or cardiothoracic specialties.

You’ll be an advanced scrub practitioner, either nurse or ODP,

as well as excellent communication skills and the ability to work

as part of a team. Your duties will include participation in an

on-call rota once competent.


Andrew Prescott on 020 8725 1492.

Neuro Theatres

Theatre Practitioners -

Surgical Scrub & Anaesthetics

Band 5, £23,619 - £30,508 pa inc

Ref: 200-SJAA-183-KR

A scrub/anaesthetic practitioner, either Nurse or ODP, you’ll

strengthen and support our current team to provide a valuable

contribution to the provision of high quality care to our patients.


Andrew Prescott on 020 8725 1492.

Inpatient Recovery

Theatre Practitioners

Band 5, £23,619 - £30,508 pa inc

Post ref: 200-SJJD-185-KR

You’ll provide essential care and support to patients in the

recovery area, as well as clinical support and leadership in the

absence of more senior staff. Rotation to all areas is expected

and you’ll preferably have experience in Recovery/HDU/ITU care,

although full training will be available. Paediatric qualifications

and/or experience are highly desirable.

For an informal discussion, please contact Derek Reid

on 020 8725 3509.

Inpatient Theatres

We have vacancies for the following specialties where we

can offer you a wide variety of experience in: ENT and

Maxillo-facial, Urology, Gynaecology, Obstetrics, Plastic surgery

and Orthopaedics.

You’ll be either a nurse or ODP.


Surgical Scrub & Anaesthetics

Band 5, £23,619 - £30,508 pa inc

Ref: 200-SJJE-181-KR

Advanced Theatre Practitioners

- Surgical Scrub

Band 6, £28,149 - £37,558 pa inc

Ref: 200-SJJE-182-KR

You’ll be an advanced scrub practitioner, either nurse or ODP.

For an informal discussion, please contact Alberto Castrillon

on 020 8725 2129 or Maggie Savage on 020 8725 1958.

Day Surgery


Surgical Scrub, Anaesthetics

& Recovery

Band 5, £23,619 - £30,508 pa inc

Ref: 200-SJLA-184-KR

Our busy stand-alone Day Surgery Unit comprises five operating

theatres, recovery and a pre-assessment centre, which serves

both adult and paediatric patients.

We undertake elective and trauma work and our theatre

practitioners rotate between theatres and recovery. You’ll be a

scrub/anaesthetic practitioners, either nurse or ODP.

For an informal discussion, please contact Cathie Stirling

on 020 8725 0223.

Please apply online at

www.stgeorges.nhs.uk

Closing date for all posts: 3 July 2008.

Interview date: w/c 21 July 2008.

Please note this vacancy will close before the advertised

closing date if sufficient suitable applications are received.

We are an equal opportunities employer.

www.stgeorges.nhs.uk

Bedford Hospital

NHS Trust

Let’s get you

working!

ODPs & Theatre Nurses

As a specialist agency our knowledgeable consultants

understand your needs.

• Excellent rates of pay

• Regular work

• Flexible hours to suit you

• Recommendation bonus

We have exclusive contracts with NHS Trusts

and Private Hospitals with immediate starts.

For more information contact the Theatre

Staff Recruitment Specialists near you:

London - 0845 1305150

Midlands - 08457 23 24 25

NW & Yorks - 0845 1306209

www.firstpointhealthcare.com

SOLEprovider

to Vanguard

Healthcare

Mobile Operating

Theatres

Face To Face Interviews In April With

Prestigious Auckland Hospital, New Zealand

Secure your new role and new life now for 2008

MercyAscot and Geneva Health International are coming to the UK this April to interview and

offer jobs to skilled and professional Registered Operating Department Practitioners

and Theatre and Recovery Nurses with a goal to live and work in New Zealand.

The private sector in New Zealand offers you the best of the best in terms of facilities,

surgeons, procedures and opportunities. As New Zealand’s largest private surgical

facilities, with state-of-the-art hospitals based in Auckland, MercyAscot offers a diverse

range of surgical specialities and a supportive, top-rate team.

As a RODP or Theatre/Recovery Nurse in MercyAscot you will have the opportunity

to scrub and assist in a variety of procedures, working alongside New Zealand’s top


Ideally if will you have a minimum of 24 months current RODP experience within

a Theatre Suite/OR and have your sights on New Zealand, then MercyAscot is the


MercyAscot are offering an excellent relocation package (some conditions apply) to all

successful candidates, and Geneva Health are here to support your move every step

of the way.



freephone 0800 404 7591




OPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTITIONER

The Gibraltar Health Authority is looking for an enthusiastic and highly

motivated Operating Department Practitioner.

Candidates must feel comfortable working in a busy Operating Department

that provides a comprehensive range of surgical services such as General,

Urology, Obs & Gynae, Ophthalmic, ENT, Dentals, Maxillo-Facial, Plastic,

Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery. The above appointment will be on contract terms for one-year and salary

dependable on experience ranges from £15,964 to £20,202 per annum*.

Additionally a tax-free gratuity of 25% of basic salary earned during

employment is payable on satisfactory completion of contract. Passages are

payable in full and transportation of personal effects and accommodation are

subsidised. Further details on the above post are obtainable from the Deputy Director of

Nursing Services on Tel: 00-350-72266 ext 2313.

For an Application Pack contact the GHA’s Recruitment Section, Gibraltar

Health Authority, St Bernard’s Hospital, Gibraltar on (Tel: 00-350-200-72266

ext 2081) (Fax: 00-350-200-43864) or (e.mail: [email protected])

Closing Date: 31 st March 2008 *Please note that these are 2006 figures, as 2007/08

Pay scales are currently under negotiation.

GIBRALTAR HEALTH AUTHORITY

Face To Face Intervie

ws In April W

ith

Prestigious A

uckland Hospital, N

ew Zealand

Secure your new role and new life in 2008

MercyAscot a

nd Geneva Health Internationa

l are coming to the UK this April to

interview and

offer jobs to

skilled and profess

ional Registered Operating Department Practitioners

and Theatre and Recovery Nurses with a goal to live a

nd work in New Zealand

.

The private secto

r in New Zealand offers

you the best of the best in

terms of facilities

,

surgeons, procedures a

nd opportunities. As New Zealan

d’s largest private

surgical

facilities, with state

-of-the-art

hospitals based in Auckland, MercyA

scot offers a

diverse

range of surgical sp

ecialities and a supportive

, top-rate team.

As a RODP or Theatre/Recovery Nurse in MercyA

scot you will have th

e opportunity

to scrub and assis

t in a variety of proced

ures, working alongside New Zealand’s top


Ideally you will have a minimum of 24 months current RODP experience within a

Theatre Suite/OR and have your sights on New Zealand, then MercyAscot is the


MercyAscot a

re offering an excelle

nt relocation packag

e (some con

ditions apply) to all

successful candidates,

and Geneva Health are h

ere to support you

r move every ste

p

of the way.



freephone 0800 404 7591




Telephone: 0

870 333 8312

Website: www.orion-locums.com

Fax: 01268 244399

email: [email protected]

Licensed by Commission for Social Care Inspection

Orion Locums is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Immediate Lo

ng Term

vacanciesDay r

ates

up to £35/hr

We urgently need sta

ff for

long term and ad hoc posts in

Surrey

London

Suffolk

Kent

Manchester & NW

Essex

Sussex

Northampton

Call now for up to date National va

cancies

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is an aspiring Foundation Trust that works in close partnership with the University

Situated in the South West, between Dartmoor National Park and a spectacular coastline, Plymouth is a vibrant

beautiful surroundings and a wonderful quality of life.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Cardiothoracic Centre is a source of pride for the Trust and region with its growin

facilities, created by the recent completion of a truly innovative new build.

Due to internal promotions we are seeking high calibre nursing staff at Band 5 and Band 6 to join our team. You

excellent standards of surgical health to the people of the South West, and contribute to the further developmen

our unit. In return, you will enjoy being part of a flexible and friendly team, a first class working environment, an

a committment to helping you achieve your ambitions.

For informal enquiries or to arrange a visit please contact Sr Jean Hobson, Theatre Manager on 01752 763

For further particulars and to apply please visit our website: www.plymouthhospitals.nh

Closing date: Monday, 7th April 2008

Interview date: Tuesday, 22nd April 2008.

W

www.plymouthho

spitals.org.uk

Band 5 Scrub Practitioners

Ref: 216-MER-2284-CARDIAC5

based patient care with the ability to support and supervise the

learning of others

Band 6 Scrub P

Team Leader

Ref: 216-MER-2285

to the theatre team.

Medic International is part of Pinnacle

Healthcare, one of the largest suppliers

of specialist nurses and theatre staff

to the NHS and private sector.

We urgently require:

ODPs & Theatre Nurses;

Scrub, Anaesthetic & Recovery

On-going placements UK wide

Contracted supplier to NHS Scotland

Excellent rates of pay

Call Allison on 0844 736 0280 for a chat,

or e-mail [email protected]

www.pinnacle-staffing-group.co.uk

As part of a m

ajor development of surgical faci

lities at the

College, including skills l

abs and minimal ac

cess surgery

suites, we are opening a mock o

perating theatre to help

train surgeons and surgica

l teams for the future.

You will join a highly-re

garded team in the setup, running

and setdown of courses in the theatre, minimal ac

cess

and skills lab, using simulators, models, animal and

cadaveric tissue.

You will have worked in an operating theatre as a

n ODP


theatre staff with appropriate

experience.

For further information on this role and to apply

please visit our website or email

[email protected].

uk



We are an employer fully c

ommitted to our equality


s.

Registered cha

rity No. 212808

www.rcseng.ac

.uk

Surgical R

esources

Technician

£24,800 + Excellent Benefits

C. London

Anaesthetic Technicians/ODP’s

We are looking for Anaesthetic Tech’s to join our theatre teams based at North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals in Auckland. If you

are a Kiwi returning home or a Brit looking for a change in climate, then we want to hear from you. We currently have four vacant

positions within our Anaesthetics services and are offering short or long-term contracts to experienced AT/ODP’s.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in knowing more about, please contact

Angela Shaw on +64 9 487 1551 or email [email protected].

www.aucklandhealthcareers.co.nz/wdhb

aland offers an amazing New Zealand offers an amazing

of life!

bblicaation.

nisation f

rcyAscot are offering an e

uccessful candidates,

and G

of the way.

TToTooo bbbbbbooooookok your int ieervie

cccoooononnnntnttaacact Julia Johnso

fffrfrrereeeeeeeppphone 0800 404

eeeeememmmmamaail juliaj@geneva

ooooororr rregister online a

wwwwwwww.genevahealt

College, includ g

suites, we are opening a mock o

p

train surgeons and surgica

l teams for the future.

You will join a highly-re

garded team in the setup, running

and setdown of courses in the theatre, minimal ac

cess

and skills lab, using simulators, models, animal and

cadaveric tissue.

You will have worked in an operating theatre as a

n ODP


theatre staff with appropriate

experience.

For further information on this role and to apply

please visit our website or email

[email protected].

uk



We are an employer fully c

ommitted to our


s.

Registered cha

rity No. 212808

www.rcs

AnaesthheeeeeettttttttiiiiicccWe are looking for Anaesthetic T

are a Kiwi returning home or a Bri

positions within our Anaesthetics

If this sounds like something you’d

Angela Shaw on +64 9 487 1551 or

wwww..aaaaaauauauuuuucc

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNeeeeeeeeeeeNNNNNNNNNeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwNNNNNNNNNNeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwweeewww

www.opera ngtheatrejobs.com


A one-stop resource for ALL your theatre related Career opportuni es

Whether you’re looking for a role in

Anaesthetics, Surgery or Recovery,

in a clinical or management

role within the NHS

or private sector-

Operating Theatre Jobs. com

will have something to offer

you.

We also aim to provide

the latest vacancies in

the Allied areas of :

Sterile Services,

Endoscopy, Critical Care

and Education.

If you’d prefer to

work for a medical

recruitment agency

their recent career

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illustrated.

Many individuals may wish to

focus their clinical skills in the

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Operating Theatre Jobs.

com offers an opportunity

to explore current medical

representative vacancies.

For the advertiser we offer:

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Combination advertisements

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Stand alone advertisements

and banners in either media

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For further information

regarding recruitment

advertising within

Operating Theatre Jobs.com

and the


OTJ- please contact:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7100 2867




Whether you’re looking for a role in

Anaesthetics, Surgery or Recovery,

in a clinical or management

role within the NHS

or private sector-

Operating Theatre Jobs. com

will have something to offer

you.

We also aim to provide

the latest vacancies in

the Allied areas of :

Sterile Services,

Endoscopy, Critical Care

and Education.

If you’d prefer to

work for a medical

recruitment agency

their recent career

opportunities are also

illustrated.

Many individuals may wish to

focus their clinical skills in the

hospital sales environment.

Operating Theatre Jobs.

com offers an opportunity

to explore current medical

representative vacancies.

For the advertiser we offer:

Competitive rates

Reaches the staff you need

Nationally and Internationally

Combination advertisements

in both the popular pages of


and on Operating Theatre Jobs.com

Personal Service

Stand alone advertisements

and banners in either media

Proven Record

Series booking & Discounts

For further information

regarding recruitment

advertising within

Operating Theatre Jobs.com

and the


OTJ- please contact:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7100 2867

The NICOM has been positively validated against

Thermodilution (Swan-Ganz CCO) and offers

precision plus the benefit of real time readings. The

NICOM filters inaccuracies from interference due

to electrical noise and patient movement.

AAccurate

User friendly, totally non-invasive

application for safe and affordable use in

nearly any clinical setting. The four electrode

pads can be applied quickly to either the front

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Simple

Has been used in various clinical settings including

intensive care, operating rooms, emergency departments,

dialysis treatment and outpatient offices as well as the

measurement of exercise cardiac output (ECO™).

Versatile

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Promote your products, ll your vacancies and share your news, by using the power of

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* Widely distributed in print and on the internet* Nationally and Internationally read* Unlimited non-member based readership* Series bookings and discounts* Recruitment advertising* Combination adverts* Competitive rates* Proven record* Personal service* Monthly Publication

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Penlon Limited completes sale of its medical gas business

Intermed Penlon has successfully completed the divestment of its medical gas business. Acquired by Atlas Copco Limited, Penlon’s Medical Gas Solutions business supplies medical gas systems, medical vacuum equipment and medical gas pipeline components for hospitals around the world. It had revenues of approximately £12 million in 2010 and employs around 100 people. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

The divestment is in line with Penlon’s strategy of focusing on its core business of anaesthesia, and combined with Penlon’s signi cant global presence, will help drive growth opportunities for the business, especially in international markets. Penlon is committed to providing its customers with a strong value proposition, supported by excellent customer service, and has an enviable history of innovation and development in this eld.

Stephen Moon, CEO commented, ‘As a global player in anaesthesia, this represents an important milestone for Penlon in our strategy to accelerate growth in our core business. The Penlon brand already has a strong heritage and we will look to further enhancing and strengthening our market position, underpinned by the talent and expertise of our global team’.

About PenlonPenlon is a leading international healthcare manufacturer and provider of anaesthesia, intubation, oxygen therapy and suction control systems. The global market for healthcare continues to expand and Penlon is well placed to capitalise on this macro trend. Headquartered in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, Penlon has established a global presence and employs 220 people across Europe, USA, the Middle East and Far East. The Company is focused on sustaining its growth through the continued internationalisation of the business and development of its core services and products. For further information please visit www.penlon.com

Please quote ‘OTJ’

Royal Cornwall Hospital patients ‘jumping waiting list’

Recently referred patients are being treated ahead of those on a waiting list, the Royal Cornwall Hospital (RCH) has admitted.

Up to 670 people had been waiting for more than the government waiting time target, of 18 weeks, the hospital said.

It explained it was treating the newer referrals rst to avoid penalties for further target breaches.

However, patients’ group Health Initiative Cornwall said patients should be treated in order.

The hospital said its waiting list had grown because of operating theatre improvement works.

Operations backlogOrthopaedic Surgeon, Andrew Lee, told BBC News: “We’re doing our very best not to make any more breaches.

“We’re therefore treating the people under 18 weeks as well as dealing with the breached patients as fast as we can.”

However, Graham Webster, from Health Initiative Cornwall, said: “[The patients] feel they’ve been left on the shelf, and they feel people are not concerned that they’re having to wait a long time for their treatment.”

The hospital said a mobile operating theatre brought in in June, at a cost of £500,000, had helped reduce the operations backlog, from 1,600 to 670.

Mr Lee said the hospital had also invested in new equipment and increased the number of operations it did each week. Source: BBC


QA4 in ‘Concept of Day Surgery’ lmAnetic Aid equipment is no stranger to the large or small screen. The QA3 and QA4 trolley systems and tourniquets are frequently seen in documentaries that feature real hospitals, in news footage and as props in many dramas.

More recently, the QA4 Surgery Trolley System took centre stage in a specially commissioned lm to promote the concept of day surgery in a project involving the British Association of Day Surgery and its counterpart the International Association for Ambulatory Surgery.

The lm was shot in the newly opened Day Surgery Unit in the Elective Care Centre at Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in Liverpool. Using an actor to play the part of a patient, the lm showed each step of the patient’s journey.

Taking the example of a hand operation, the ‘patient’ arrived on site and was directed to the Day Surgery Unit on the second oor where he reported into reception.

He was called through and taken into an interview room to con rm his details and make the nal pre-op checks before being asked to change into a theatre gown.

After a short wait, he and a Day Surgery Nurse walked down to the anaesthetic room where he got onto the trolley; one of the key bene ts of Day Surgery is that there is no requirement for staff to lift or transfer the patient between trolley and operating table.

Once the ‘patient’ was ‘anaesthetised’, monitoring equipment was also attached to the trolley and it was wheeled directly into theatre, where staff selected one of range of arm tables from the Anetic Aid accessory trolley to attach to the QA4 whilst other staff checked through the required instruments for the operation.

Obviously there was no actual procedure, but the lm picked up the journey again to follow the patient through rst and second stage recovery where he was able to get off the trolley himself and get dressed ready to leave the unit after being briefed on what to do if he had any concerns etc.

Manager of the Unit Penny Hipwell, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Andy Molloy, Consultant Anaesthetist Bill Horton and a group of Healthcare Assistants Barbara Thomas, Joann Fields and Alexandra Murphy were also lmed talking about the bene ts of day surgery from a patient, staff and Trust point of view and an introduction for the whole lm was presented on camera by President of BADS, Consultant Anaesthetist Ian Smith.

The lm footage was also used to make a patient orientation lm for Aintree with additional sections showing members of staff explaining what happens in each area.

Manager of the unit, Penny Hipwell commented: ’It was very exciting to be on a lm set for the day, and we were so proud to be able to show off our new unit. As well as the lm, the day was an excellent ‘Team Building’ exercise for the staff’. When responding to articles please quote ‘OTJ’

Are you reading someone else’s copy of the OTJ?

Then why not “download” your own from the Links Page of

www.otjonline.com


The future of Electrosurgery is evolving The new E Series range from Eschmann provides the performance, precision and versatility to meet the exacting requirements of even the most demanding surgical environments. Intuitive touch-screen control, Vessel Sealing and Argon Beam technologies are now available for the rst time in one complete system - the new E50 from Eschmann, the leading model in the range. The E Series consists of three further units all designed to meet the speci c demands of the environments in which they are used.

The Vessel Sealing module on the E50 provides quick and effective permanent occlusion of large blood vessels and tissue bundles up to 7mm in diameter. Vessel sealing eliminates the need for traditional staples and sutures, by creating a permanent seal, which can reduce both surgery and recovery times. The Argon Beam module uses a high frequency monopolar current and a beam of pressurised argon gas to deliver a superior cutting and coagulating effect, reducing risk of perforation.

The E30 is a powerful, highly capable multi-purpose electrosurgery unit suitable for use in an array of demanding procedures, including Maxillofacial, Orthopaedics and Trauma surgery. Three outputs and sixteen cut and coagulation modes provide signi cant user choice with an intuitive interface making the unit exceptionally easy to use. Nine memory settings provide individual surgeons with the exibility to store and easily recall their personal preferences, plus specialist modes to facilitate endoscopy procedures.

Lower powered units E10 and E20 provide economical simplicity for use in less intensive surgical environments. The compact E10 has been designed for safe and simple use in small surgical procedures usually carried out in Primary Care Surgery Centres and Burns and Plastics Clinics. The monopolar output provides four cut and coagulation modes up to 120W, with a bipolar output providing coagulation up to 80W.

More powerful, with the scope to perform a greater range of procedures the E20 is ideal for use in Ophthalmics and GP minor surgery rooms. The monopolar output provides four cut and coagulation modes up to 250W, with a bipolar output up to 99W with automatic stop/start.

Eschmann are Global leaders in healthcare innovation, delivering the very best in medical engineering technology for over 150 years. Further details on the full E Series Electrosurgery range can be found by visiting www.eschmann.co.uk/eseries or by calling 01903 875747.

When responding please quote ‘OTJ’

NICE SUPPORTS INDITHERM PATIENT WARMINGThe National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have issued guidance that supports the use of Inditherm patient warming systems for patients undergoing operations which carry a risk of inadvertent hypothermia.

Previous NICE clinical guideline CG65 (Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia) recommends active intraoperative warming for all patients undergoing anaesthesia for longer than 30 minutes and for patients at higher risk of hypothermia undergoing anaesthesia for less than 30 minutes. Following on from this, new technology guidance has been issued supporting the use of Inditherm patient warming systems.

After rigorous evaluation of the clinical evidence, NICE concluded that the Inditherm patient warming mattress is similar to that of forced air warming in maintaining patient core body temperature above 36°C and that the Inditherm system may have practical advantages.

The key recommendations from NICE and the bene ts it identi es, include:

• Effectiveness of the Inditherm patient warming mattress in maintaining patient core temperature is similar to forced air warming (FAW)• Annual cost saving is estimated to be £9,800 per operating theatre compared with current technology• Reduction in surgical site infections with consequent cost savings• Low running costs and faster turnaround times for patients• Reusable device with no consumables and low energy consumption offering environmental as well as economic bene ts • Silent and easy to maintain

Inadvertent hypothermia, a common complication of anaesthesia, can lead to increased risk of wound infection, increased blood loss, increased heart problems, longer recovery times and longer hospital stay. NICE concluded that the Inditherm mattress is a practical, economic and effective patient warming device which can help prevent these complications and reduce hospital costs.

The main alternative to Inditherm’s mattress in preventing hypothermia is forced air warming (FAW) but this is a costly option, using disposable, single-use blankets. NICE estimated that the average NHS cost saving from using the Inditherm patient warming system is in the region of £9,800 per operating theatre each year. This could save the NHS in England alone well over £15 million if FAW was replaced by Inditherm’s mattress for eligible procedures* in most of the 3,030 operating theatres in England.

* Eligible procedures are those where a patient is under anaesthetic for more than 30 minutes. In the UK these amount to more than 2 million operations per year.

Nick Bettles, Chief Executive of Inditherm

Nick Bettles, Chief Executive of Inditherm commented: “We are delighted that NICE has recognised the value of our patient warming mattress both in terms of improving patient safety and signi cantly reducing hospital expenditure. I am con dent that this positive recommendation will see an increase in interest in our product and it’s more consistent use across NHS operating theatres. The NICE recommendations recognise the clinical advantages and enormous cost savings Inditherm can offer and also highlight that these may be understated.”

For more information go to www.inditherm.com/medical or for the full guidance document visit: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/MTG7 When responding to articles please quote ‘OTJ’


Inditherm Patient Warming

Reduce Costs and Warm All Patients

• Cost saving of up to 80%* and every patient warmed• Unrivalled warming performance

– Patented Carbon Polymer Technology– No hot air– No consumables

• Unhindered clinical access• Simple, versatile, effective and silent.

Seeing is believing, so contact any of our Medical team today for further information or a free trial, on+44 (0) 1709 761000 or email:[email protected], and quote Ref: OTJ0211

www.inditherm.com/medical

The new standard in patient warming

*Savings are based on experience in UK NHS and private hospitals.

For an independent assessment see http://guidance.nice.org.uk/MT/92

INDITHERM – REDUCING COSTS AND WARMING MORE PATIENTSInditherm Medical have revolutionised patient warming practice. More patients can now be warmed who are at risk of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia whilst also reducing NHS expenditure.

The Inditherm system has brought patient warming up to date with its patented carbon polymer technology. Clinical evaluations in the operating room have shown that the Inditherm system out-performs traditional technologies such as forced air warming and can deliver superior performance.

Clinical research has established that wound infection rates and recovery times can be dramatically reduced as a direct consequence of perioperative patient warming.

The evidence also shows signi cant reductions in mortality and morbidity. By warming each patient and preventing hypothermia, patients will have an improved morbidity and mortality, lower infection rates and faster recovery. As an under-patient mattress, the Inditherm system not only allows unhindered access to the patient, but provides greater convenience and low running costs resulting in more patients being warmed.

With no consumables or disposables required, the Inditherm patient warming system also delivers an enormous reduction in costs and offers signi cant environmental advantages.

The technology is unique in its ability to produce a completely uniform heating effect with no hotspots and excellent pressure relief is fully integrated. Mattresses and blankets are lightweight and X-Ray translucent and the system is silent in operation. All products operate at low voltage, with precise digital temperature control and independent thermal cut-outs for complete patient safety.

Inditherm Chief Executive, Nick Bettles, commented: “Whilst the clinical considerations are always the driving factor behind any decision to change, it is good to offer a technology that delivers nancial and environmental savings at the same time. At a time of severe budget constraints we hope that many other hospitals will also take up the opportunity to substantially reduce costs and at the same time measurably improve patient care.”

Inditherm patient warming systems are now in use worldwide and are currently used in operating rooms, neonatal areas and emergency departments. It has proved its robustness in use by military branches in

many countries. A range of international armed forces are currently using Inditherm systems, including the RAF, British, Spanish

and French Armies, Norwegian Navy and the New Zealand Airforce amongst others.

For more information on Inditherm Patient Warming Systems visit www.inditherm.com/medical



Latest operating theatre technology now available at Spire Roding Hospital

Spire Roding Hospital in Redbridge, Essex, has recently opened a brand new, state-of-the-art operating theatre - the Stryker i-Suite. The new theatre suite enables the hospital to offer consultants and patients the very best, and the very latest, in digital surgical technology. Features of the operating theatre include touch screen capability, instant access to images, voice activation, high de nition pictures and video capture, which can be played back to the patient post-operatively to help explain the procedure.

The new suite becomes the 4th operating theatre at the private hospital, and is the latest development in a £2 million programme of investment, which has been ongoing for the last 2 years.

Andy Wood, Hospital Director at Spire Roding says, “We are delighted that our superb new digital theatre is now up and running. We are just one of few private hospitals in the country with such equipment. All of the components of the theatre system are fully integrated and designed to make carrying out surgery easier for our surgeons.”

“The development is great news for Roding Hospital, and for both our patients and consultants, as around 60% of surgical cases are undertaken using minimally invasive, laparoscopic techniques.”

Spire Roding’s new theatre has been built in full partnership with Stryker communications, the world’s most established provider of integrated theatres. Their theatres represent the future of theatre design and technology with HD 1080p cameras,

ceiling mounted HD monitors and equipment arms, DVD recording, LED theatre lights and even voice control of equipment.

Since pioneering the rst digital operating theatre almost 20 years ago, the Stryker i-Suite has become world’s most popular solution to the challenge of improving patient safety and strengthening healthcare outcomes in key-hole surgery, through integrating emerging technologies into a sophisticated and ergonomic work ow.

The excellent new theatre technology at Spire Roding Hospital is bene cial to both surgeon and patient. For the surgeon, the technology extends and improves the range of surgical techniques available at the hospital. For example, during keyhole surgery, images can be captured in HD and beamed to large monitors, which can be repositioned to ensure that

they are in best line of sight of the surgeons. This potentially improves the ability of the operating surgeon to see, diagnose and react during surgical procedures.

The new theatre also broadens the range of surgical procedures available to the patient at Spire Roding Hospital, in that the theatre ‘environment’ can be preset with a simple press of a button to accommodate virtually all forms of both ‘open’ and ‘laparoscopic’ (minimally invasive) surgery, ranging from orthopaedic to hernia surgery, urological, gynaecological and cosmetic surgery.

Theatre staff bene t too, as the equipment is neatly stored off the ground on movable arms making it easier and safer for staff to thoroughly clean and ‘turn around’ the theatre ready for the next patient.

The Stryker i-Suite equipment at Spire Roding Hospital also creates a revolution in surgical teaching and training by enabling global broadcast transmission from the operating theatre (with the patient’s permission) to any location in the world.The new theatre suite has quickly found favour with Spire Roding’s expert consultant surgeons. Mr Aman Bhargava, a Consultant General Surgeon who performs many operations at the hospital such as gall bladder removal, anti-re ux and hernia repair operations says, “The new theatre has been equipped with minimal access/laparoscopic surgical equipment and is designed to enable a surgeon like myself to work in an environment which is built for purpose with HD technology. The wide screens enable surgeons and their assistants to see clearly, so that surgery can be performed in an accurate and most ef cient way.”Mr Bhargava continues, “Set up time is now much shorter, enabling operations to be carried out more rapidly; the quality of the equipment enables more accurate and effective surgery with minimal fuss and a delightful environment for staff and surgeon alike. The integration enables settings for the patient for laparoscopic surgery by voice command or by a remote panel including lighting, pressure ows and positioning of screens gives the best ergonomics and comfort for the surgeon. I feel comfortable with performing more complex laparoscopic procedures at Spire Roding Hospital, as the reliability of the equipment and safety of the patient is better than ever.”


New medical needle seeks to cut rate of failed intravenous injectionsA new form of needle which aims to dramatically reduce the rate of failed intravenous injections has been co-developed at Nottingham Trent University. Experts at the University have been working with Olberon Medical Innovations to create a self-retracting needle, which addresses the common problem of passing completely through a vein.

It is estimated that there are up to 25 million intravenous injections, or cannulations, in the UK each year, with up to a third expected to fail rst time. A major problem with current needles is that operators nd it dif cult to detect when they have successfully located and punctured the vein, causing the needle to pass through the other side and fail in its positioning.The new needle has an automatic mechanism which, based on changes in pressure, causes it to withdraw the moment it detects the move from tissue to vein. The product – Advanced Intravenous Cannula for Improved Insertion Success Rate – is patent protected and the researchers are working with medical suppliers to develop a partnership for its mass manufacture.Researchers say the needle, which builds on existing designs but with a number of additional components, can be made at a comparable price, while providing better value for money, saving time and reducing the suffering of patients.

The research came about due to a long term collaboration between the University and Olberon Medical Innovations – based at the University of Nottingham – which aimed to identify common medical problems which could be solved through design. It has been funded via an Innovation Fellowship grant given by the East Midlands Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund.

Researcher Dr Amin Al-Habaibeh, an expert in advanced design and manufacturing technologies in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, said: “This is a simple but innovative concept which we feel provides an ideal solution to the common problem of failed intravenous injections. When the needle hits the vein the pressure moves a diaphragm which activates its withdrawal by the force of a tiny spring.“The new needle is used in exactly the same way as existing products, but, essentially, it works automatically. This means we no longer need to rely on the operator alone and their understanding of when a vein has been punctured.”Dr Arash Bakhtyari, the managing director of Olberon Medical Innovations, said: “This advanced intravenous cannula represents a signi cant improvement on existing products by making the detection of vessel entry and withdrawal of the inner needle automatic. Intravenous injection is the world’s most common invasive medical procedure, and 80% of patients admitted to UK hospitals will receive a cannulation.“This invention highlights the importance of the industry working with academia, which in this case has provided a unique and novel medical invention which is expected to help patients and the doctors across the globe.”


Call: 01268 297 710 Email: [email protected] or Visit: www.timesco.com

SHOULDN’T YOU BE REDUCING CROSS INFECTION IN YOUR THEATRES? Source: Contamination of laryngoscope handles, 2009.www.timesco -anaesthesia.co.uk

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Bad Germs Common on Hospital Workers’ ClothesDrug-Resistant Staph, Other Bacteria Found on Doctors’, Nurses’ ClothingThe white coats, scrubs, and smocks of hospital doctors and nurses may look clean, but bad germs are hitching rides on their clothes, new research shows.

Uniforms worn by hospital personnel often are contaminated with the superbug MRSA and a variety of other bacteria, Israeli scientists report.

They swabbed white coats and uniforms worn by doctors and nurses and found potentially dangerous bacteria on more than 60% of items they examined.

Doctors’ uniforms were a little cleaner than nurses’, with 60% containing potentially dangerous bacteria, compared to 65% of what nurses wore.

MRSA Found on UniformsAnd the researchers say that antibiotic-resistant bacteria were found on 14% of nurses’ and 6% of doctors’ uniforms.

MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a particularly dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacterium, was found on eight of 238 samples of uniforms.

The ndings suggest that many hospital patients come in close proximity to MRSA and other bacteria. The researchers note that the uniforms themselves may not present a direct risk of spreading disease.

“It is important to put these study results into perspective,” Russell Olmsted, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, says in a news release. “Any clothing that is worn by humans will become contaminated with microorganisms.”

He says the “cornerstone” of infection prevention continues to be hand hygiene, to prevent the movement of bugs from contaminated surfaces to patients.

Hygiene MattersThe researchers checked the sleeves, waists, and pockets of 75 registered nurses and 60 doctors at the 550-bed Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Among those checked, 58% said they changed uniforms daily. In addition, 77% of those sampled rated their uniforms as moderately clean to very clean.

The Israeli researchers, led by Shaare Zedek’s Yonit Wiener-Well, MD, found that the rate of contamination with antibiotic-resistant organisms was 29% on clothing changed every two days, compared to 8% on garb changed daily.

They recommend that health workers change uniforms daily, boost hand hygiene practices, and wear plastic aprons when contact with body uids could occur.

Previous research has shown that the clothing of hospital workers, including watches, rings, and neckties, could harbour bacteria.

Bottom line: Keep hands clean.The study appears in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. Source: WebMD Health News

Should Food Stores ban Healthcare Professionals from wearing the uniforms in store ?? Visit the OTJ Facebook page and comment on this story

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BESPOKE HEALTHCARES INTRA-OPERATIVE MONITORING SERVICE

EXPANDS WITH KEY APPOINTMENT

Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist in Neurophysiology, Lindsay Henderson has joined Bespoke Healthcare on a consultancy basis to promote the companys Intra-Operative Monitoring (IOM) service throughout the UK.

Henderson, from Edinburgh, received her BSc (Hons) in Clinical Physiology (Neuro) at Westminster College in 2006 and is employed at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh.

She recently presented a paper entitled Can Clinical Physiologists provide a safe, independent intra-operative monitoring (IOM) service in paediatric spine deformity surgery? at the 2010 British Scoliosis Society meeting. The audit of the Scottish National Paediatric Spine Deformity Service was chosen as Best Scienti c Paper.

Since launching its IOM service in April 2010, Bespoke Healthcare, the leading independent provider of nerve conduction study tests for NHS hospitals throughout the UK, has provided IOM in excess of 150 operations as surgeons look to minimise risks during complex spine surgery.

Healthcare establishments including Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital, Hope Hospital and Alder Hey Childrens Hospital have all commissioned the service, which provides surgeons with immediate feedback and warnings before permanent nerve injury has occurred.

Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEPs), Transcranial Electrical Motor Evoked Potential (TcMEP or MEP) and Electromyography (EMG) techniques have all been utilised, dependent upon the patients individual circumstances.

Gwam Rajiah, managing director of Bespoke Healthcare, said: There is a growing demand for IOM to become compulsory, but the problem is there are very few companies who have the technical expertise, equipment and correct legal documentation. We have all of these in place.

In the last 16 months we have delivered our service seamlessly throughout England and Wales and we will continue to concentrate on these markets, but we will also look to introduce ourselves into Scotland where there is no IOM service provision whatsoever.

To have someone with the experience, knowledge and drive of Lindsay to help promote our IOM service is a coup for the business, and we will look to grow and continue to raise the importance of IOM.

Founded in 2006, Bespoke Healthcare has seen over 12,000 patients for leading healthcare establishments nationwide including Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.

Further information can be found at www.bespokehealthcare.co.uk When responding please quote ‘OTJ’

NHS Information Centre reports on just over 148,000 written complaints

about the health serviceJust over 148,000 written complaints about the health service in 2010-11 were reported to the NHS Information Centre for its annual collection; a 2.4 per cent (3,700) decrease in reported complaints compared to the previous year.

However, 29 foundation trusts (FTs) did not report any data in 2010-11, compared to 18 in the previous year, according to Data on written complaints in the NHS - 2010-11, a collection that is voluntary for FTs.

Considering the 352 trusts who reported data for both 2010-11 and for the previous year; total written complaints increased by 0.3 per cent; from 145,000 to 145,400.

Todays report (25/8/11) presents data reported through two collections one for family health services and one for hospital and community health services, which is voluntary for FTs.

It also includes for the rst time published data about the subject area of complaint down to NHS trust level.

Between 2009-10 and 2010-11, the total number of written complaints reported on by the NHS Information Centre:

• about family health services saw a slight decrease of 50 (0.1 per cent); from 50,760 to 50,710.

• about hospital and community health services, considering all organisations taking part, decreased by 3.6 per cent from 101,100 to 97,500. However considering only organisations who took part in both years, there was a 0.5 per cent increase from 94,200 to 94,700.

For family health services (including GPs and dentists) in 2010-11;

• The medical area received the most written complaints of any service area (30,780); accounting for three in ve (61 per cent) of complaints recorded. This type of complaint increased by 0.5 per cent on the previous year (when there were 30,620 complaints of this type; accounting for 60 per cent of all complaints).

• The subject most complained about was clinical service, which accounted for one in three (35 per cent) of complaints (17,470). This type of complaint increased by seven per cent on the previous year (when there were 16,300 complaints of this type; accounting for 34 per cent of all complaints)

For NHS hospitals and community services in 2010-11:

• The medical profession received the most written complaints of any service area; accounting for just under 45 per cent (43,600) of complaints recorded. Nurses, midwives and health visitors accounted for the second biggest amount at just over a fth (21,500) of complaints. This is similar proportion to the previous year.

• The subject most complained about was all aspects of clinical treatment, which accounted for 44 per cent of complaints (43,200). This type of complaint increased from 42 per cent in the previous year.

NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: Data about 148,200 complaints was submitted to this report, but I would encourage all foundation trusts to report their complaints to us, so that future reports can tell the complex story based on information from every trust.

It appears that medical and clinical aspects of care remain the biggest area of complaint within the NHS


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Surgical teams up to develop innovative glue application

MEDICAL device developer Surgical Innovations has sealed a deal with another medical technology rm to develop a new glue tool for use in keyhole surgery.

The Leeds-based group said it has teamed up with its stock market-listed peer Advanced Medical Solutions (AMS) to develop a device to be used in applying adhesives and sealants in surgery – a $600m-plus market.

The companies will develop their rst product for hernia repair, for launch in 2013. Currently, mesh used in hernia surgery is xed using sutures, staples and tacks.

Surgical said a new internal applicator, using AMS’s adhesives, will tackle this market and should reduce surgical complications.

Surgical will retain the intellectual property rights to the device – a “unique applicator to deliver accurately individual drops of adhesive or sealant internally within the body, accessed via a minimally invasive surgical port site”.

Surgical chief executive Graham Bowland said: “Our agreement with AMS af rms Surgical’s reputation in delivering leading design solutions to original equipment manufacturer customers.

“The applicator device for AMS is a natural extension to our existing minimally invasive surgical product portfolio and we have already commenced on the design work on a fully disposable product.

“As part of the agreement Surgical Innovations will retain the full intellectual property rights to the applicator device and will also manufacture it on behalf of AMS.”

AMS will have worldwide exclusive rights to this adhesive tool, and in return has pledged to buy all its requirements for the applicator from Surgical for 10 years.

Chris Meredith, chief executive of AMS, said: “This agreement combines our formulation and regulatory expertise with Surgical Innovations’ applicator design and manufacturing expertise to introduce a new product to a global market.”•

Source: Yorkshire Post

VTE Risk Assessment Data Collection - April to June 2011

The fourth quarterly statistics on Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Risk Assessment in England, produced by the Department of Health were released on 2 September according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

VTE Risk Assessment data collection 2011-12 QUARTER 1

The key points from the latest release are:

The key results for data collected on the number and proportion of VTE Risk Assessments carried out on adult admissions to NHS funded acute care are as follows:

• Of the 3.1m adult patients admitted to NHS funded acute care between April to June 2011, as reported in this data collection, 84% of these received a VTE risk assessment on admission, an increase compared to Q4 2010-11 (81%).

• In Q1 2011-12, the proportion of admissions receiving a VTE risk assessment was higher for NHS acute providers (84.1%) than for Independent Sector providers (80.2%). The compliance rate for NHS acute providers is much higher than for other types of providers, so this may have an in uence on the performance gures.

• Between April and June, the proportion of providers who reported that at least half of all adult admissions were risk assessed for VTE increased from 92% to 95%.

• In June 2011, 131 providers reported that at least 90% of adult admissions were risk assessed for VTE, compared to 18 in July 2010.

The full data tables can be found on the Department of Health website:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_129232

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There’s only ONE place to look for Operating Theatre Jobs !

www.OperatingTheatreJobs.comIf you are looking for a job as an ODP, Scrub, Anaesthetic or Recovery Room Nurse / Practitioner. In the allied elds of ITU, Sterile Services, Endoscopy or Critical Care or even as a Clinical Specialist, Trainer or Representative for a leading Medical Company. Don’t endlessly scour the web looking at stacks of recruitment sites but bookmark OperatingTheatreJobs.com as your unique resource !

Jobs arriving daily !www.OOpera ngpera ngTTheatreheatreJJobs.comobs.com


GIBRALTAR HEALTH AUTHORITYOPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTITIONER

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OVERDUE A SABBATICAL?ARE YOU ON A CAREER BREAK?

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The Gibraltar Health Authority is looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Operating Department Practitioner.

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The above appointments will be on contract terms for a period of 10 months.

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YORKSHIREOPHTHALMIC CLINICAL TEAM LEADER

This Band 8a equivalent role requires an organised, self motivated and energetic RGN who will thrive working within an organization that has cutting edge research and

medical expertise. They also have state-of-the-art surgical equipment for procedures in laser vision correction, cataract removal, refractive lens exchange as well as cosmetic

cases. You will have current theatre experience, ideally with ophthalmic scrub skills as well as a demonstrable management track record in a senior role. You will lead, direct and motivate the clinical team as well as supporting the Hospital Manager in the day to day

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KENTTHEATRE MANAGER

This role requires an enthusiastic and dynamic individual who has current experience working at a senior level in a UK theatre. You will have a demonstrable track record that exhibits an exceptional maturity to your leadership and change management skills, as

well as your clinical prowess. You will be self motivated and will have an inspired attitude which will assist you in being a con dent and encouraging direct line manager. Your role will include taking responsibility for the entire Theatre Suite, SSD and its staff, effective

theatre utilization, ensuring exible staf ng and budgeting. Senior Sisters / Senior ODP’s will also be considered for this position.

Be sure to view the latest vacancies from the following organisations:

Theatre Practitioners Recovery Nurses Anaesthetic Nurses ODPs Scrub Practitioners

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www.OOpera ngpera ngTTheatreheatreJJobs.comobs.comA one-stop resource for ALL your theatre related Career opportuni es

Fly CardiffVoices for improvements at Cardiff airport

This campaign aims to attract more airlines and business into Cardiff Airport and the greater South Wales communities. Fly Cardiff hopes to work alongside the airport and act as a bridge between it, its customers and the Welsh Government

Please support this campaign by visiting our ‘Join In’ page at :www. y-cardiff.co.uk

Hospital payout over dead fatherThe family of a young father who died from blood poisoning on Christmas Day has received six- gure compensation after hospital bosses admitted that a second opinion would almost certainly have saved his life.

Malcolm Drake, from Blurton in Stoke-on-Trent, was 23 when he died from sepsis after he developed an abscess following a perforation in his bowel, as a result of undiagnosed Crohn’s Disease.

He left behind his ancee Sophie Lindop and their son Zak, who was then just ve months old.

Three days before his death in 2007 he visited the accident and emergency department of North Staffordshire University Hospital because he was in so much pain that he could not walk. He had been there a week before with similar symptoms but was sent home.

On the second occasion, he was misdiagnosed with a muscle strain by locum GP Dr Aw - working out of hours and on his rst day at the hospital - and was again sent home, his family’s law rm Irwin Mitchell said.

If Crohn’s Disease had been diagnosed, doctors might have been able to save Mr Drake’s life by carrying out emergency surgery to prevent the bowel abscess that formed and caused the blood poisoning that killed him, as was later con rmed in a post-mortem examination.

Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust has since admitted that the locum GP should have sought an immediate second opinion from a senior hospital doctor, given that this was Mr Drake’s second attendance at A&E with the same symptoms. They also conceded that this should have led to urgent surgery.

Following a High Court Approval hearing in Birmingham, Miss Lindop said she was pleased their battle for justice was over but said it could not take away the anger she feels because her ance is not alive today.

She said: “Our little boy, Zak, is now four years old. He starts school in a few days’ time and this should have been a milestone in his life which he should have shared with both his parents.

“Sadly, he will never remember his daddy and has been robbed of all the time they should have had together.” Source: PA

NHS NoticeboardDuring many years of supplying expensive equipment we have seen, on many occasions, customers ordering equipment that we were aware was being disposed of in a neighbouring hospital. Our conscience has got the better of us and we have built this website in the hope it encourages NHS hospitals to advertise their redundant equipment and maybe another hospital will contact them and make use of it. Here’s hoping !!!

Further information: www.nhsnoticeboard.com


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Fuji lm help Nevill Hall see more clearly with a FAZONE CB Portable Ultrasound System

Fuji lm is a pioneer in diagnostic imaging and information systems for healthcare, with a range of constantly evolving, clinically proven, products and technologies designed to assist medical professionals perform ef ciently and effectively. Their FAZONE CB portable ultrasound system was launched earlier this year and is Fuji lm’s rst ultrasound offering in the UK.

Following its successful launch into the UK market, Fuji lm is pleased to announce it has recently installed a FAZONE into the A&E Department at Nevill Hall Hospital, which is situated in Abergavenny on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The A&E Department at Nevill Hall is a designated major trauma centre, with a throughput of some 50,000 patients per year. It covers minor injuries, acute services and trauma, and needed a dedicated, portable ultrasound system to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Dr Kate Wright, Emergency Medicine Consultant at Nevill Hall commented on why the FAZONE was selected: “Our decision, following our evaluation, was based on four key factors, namely image quality, ease of use, durability and value for money.”

The FAZONE is portable and lightweight, and delivers high image quality on its large 12” screen, making it ideal for hospital wards and outpatient departments, as well as examination rooms or vehicles. It has been ergonomically designed to provide user-friendly operation, with large easy-to-use buttons, which are cleverly grouped according to examination type.

For further information on Fuji lm’s FAZONE CB, telephone Fuji lm on 01234 326780, or visit www.fujimed.co.uk.Fuji lm – pioneers in diagnostic imaging and information systems.


Revolutionising the way that operating theatres deliver their careJan Davies explains the work taking place in Wales to ensure patients get their operation on time and are able to leave hospital swiftly

IMPROVING quality and ef ciency in operating theatres throughout Wales is at the heart of work being taken forward as part of the 1,000 Lives Plus programme.Operating theatres play a central role in the delivery of care in NHS Wales today.It is here where the most basic and the most complex surgical procedures take place, bringing together clinical expertise and resources to provide the best outcome for patients.With around three million surgical operations performed in the UK every year, it’s essential theatres are running as ef ciently as possible – bene ting patients, maintaining staff morale and reducing waste.The work is integral to the 1,000 Lives Plus national programme and the Welsh Government’s quality priorities in supporting organisations and professionals to deliver the highest quality and safest care for the people of Wales.The focus on transforming theatres will maximise the use of operating theatres and surgery sessions while ensuring the way they are run does not compromise safety.This area of work is being run by the National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare (NLIAH), which is one of the partner organisations of 1,000 Lives Plus.In addition, the Delivery and Support Unit – part of the Welsh Government, which is involved in the project – is working closely with selected orthopaedic theatre teams to improve turn-around times between theatre cases.The culmination of excellent work with the Llandough Hospital orthopaedic team, in the Vale of Glamorgan, has led to the development of an operating theatre monitoring tool.Both initiatives are led and designed by theatre staff themselves. Those involved in this area of care are analysing ways to improve team interaction and de ning the factors which are important to create a “perfect operating day”.

These factors include emphasising issues such as improved communication and planning, greater ef ciency, and a better theatre environment.This has involved a range of measures including more surgical brie ngs for team members, improvements in pain control, and better management of theatre stocks and stores, which has in turn led to cleaner, less cluttered theatres and theatre corridors.The work of the Delivery and Support Unit will encourage regular analysis of relevant data to inform improvement decisions.Transforming theatres is also building on work to make surgery safer and includes the use of the World Health Organisation’s safer surgery checklist.This checklist includes such procedures as checking a patient’s identity, the correct site for operation, ensuring all necessary equipment is available and providing an opportunity for discussing any complications that may arise.Potential risks such as haemorrhage, reaction to antibiotics and allergies are also highlighted by the checklist.Patients will see the bene t as surgery becomes even safer, with staff applying proven tools, techniques and methods to improve the process – ensuring that patient safety and the quality of care are at the forefront of all that they do.The vision for transformed theatres is that every operating theatre in Wales will implement a template leading to improved ef ciency and safety.This approach will help staff have a clearer focus on a number of areas, which will include implementing the safer surgery checklist and identifying potential issues.This improved ef ciency will ensure that patients have their operation on time and reduce inconvenience from cancellations.It will also look at such issues as timing of operations, improving pre-operative assessments and best practice in recovery wards, so patients can return home sooner after surgery.These initiatives have the potential to revolutionise the way operating theatres deliver care, while ensuring the best outcome for our patients.

* Jan Davies is a director of 1,000 Lives Plus Source: WalesOnline.co.uk

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