The Operating Theatre Journal

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October 2012 Issue No. 265 ISSN 1747-728XThe Leading Independent Journal For ALL Operating Theatre Staff

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Find out more 02921 680068 • e-mail [email protected] Issue 265 October 2012 3

The Next issue copy deadline, Tuesday 23rd October 2012All enquiries: To the editorial team, 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 website, 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. © 2012The Operating Theatre Journal is printed on FSC approved papers using biodegradable ink. Any waste from the production of the magazine is recycled.

Journal Printers: The Warwick Printing Co Ltd, Caswell Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. CV31 1QD

Hospital non-compliance risking joint patient safety, NJR report nds40% of NHS Trusts and Health Boards ‘red’ rated for submissions to mandatory National Joint RegistryLocal NHS Trusts and Health Boards could be putting the long-term safety of patients at risk in failing to comply with the now-mandatory NJR.

The NJR records data on hip, knee, ankles, elbow and shoulder replacements for England and Wales. Analysis of this information for all patients provides clinical evidence to surgeons and the wider healthcare community in order to protect patient safety and improve patient care. With over 1.3 million records, the NJR is the largest registry of its type in the world.

For the rst time, today’s publication of the 9th NJR Annual Report includes individual hospital data which reveals that 40% (59 out of 148) of relevant NHS Trusts and Health Boards submitted between 0% and 79% of the hip and knee replacement operations they performed in 2011 – classifying them as ‘red’ in the NJR’s red, amber, green analysis classi cation.

The Department of Health made NJR compliance mandatory as of 1 April 2011, and the gures above cover the period 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011. But while the rst three months of 2011 were non-mandatory, during this time hospitals were strongly encouraged to comply fully with the NJR.

NJR National Development Lead Elaine Young comments: “The data we receive are essential for healthcare professionals in deciding which prostheses and procedures are right for which patients at what time to ensure patient safety. The fuller the picture provided by hospitals, the more robust the data quality, which can only lead to further improvements in patient care.”

Young continues: “The situation has improved since mandation and many best practice examples exist. But, going forward, data from English NHS Trusts and Welsh Health Boards failing to comply will be escalated to the regulators, the Care Quality Commission and Welsh Government respectively. We would encourage any hospital in need of support to contact the NJR.”

The NJR is also for the rst time issuing individual annual reports to NHS Trusts, Health Boards and independent and private sector

management covering mortality by unit (individual hospital) and joint replacement survivorship (how long a device lasts before it needs replacing or modifying) by unit and surgeon.

Professor Paul Gregg, Vice Chair of the NJR Steering Committee and Chair of its Surgeon Outlier Sub-committee added comments: “This will play a vital role in improving patient safety and overall outcomes of joint replacement surgery. However, the NJR relies on hospitals to help maximise data quality - it is therefore highly disappointing that not all Trusts and Health Boards are currently registering all operations as this will have a negative effect on this process. If managers want a precise picture of what is happening in their units, they must act now and not wait until issues are escalated.”

Other indicators for the new Trust-, Health Board- and hospital-level data analysis include patient consent and linkability as well as mortality rates, hip revision and knee revision rates for the period 2003 (when the NJR began reporting) to 2011.Hip joint replacement: key trends 2011

For hip replacements, the average body mass index (BMI) score for men and women was ‘overweight’ and the score has consistently increased within that category since 2004 but is consistently lower for women than men. In the same period, the proportion of patients with a normal BMI has fallen by 7%.

Correspondingly, the proportion of patients rated t and healthy (P1 - an ASA grade rating general health and tness to undergo surgery) decreased again to 15%, from 16% in 2010 and 37% in 2003.

Despite some anecdotal suggestion that hip replacement patients are getting younger, NJR data describe a consistent age range of patients. For example, patients under the age of 50 represent 6% of the total which has not changed since 2003 and patients over the age of 80 remains around 14%. The average age of a hip replacement patient was 67.2 – unchanged from last year.

Key facts (hips)* 80,314 hip replacement procedures were carried out – an increase of 5% over 2010 (76,759)* 5% of this total represents resurfacing and metal-on-metal total hip replacement procedures, a decline from 2010 (8%) * Patient age and gender unchanged: average age 67.2 years and 60% were female* In 93% of patients, the indication for surgery was osteoarthritis however in patients less than 30 years of age, 22% were recorded as having diagnosis of congenital dislocation/dysplasia of the hip and 20% of patients has a diagnosis of avascular necrosis

Knee joint replacement: key trends 2011

For knee replacements, the average BMI score was again ‘obese’ for men and women – 30.82 up from 30.66 last year and with year-on-year increase since the average reached ‘obese’ in 2008. Women have scored a consistently higher BMI since 2004, the opposite trend to that shown for hip replacements. Again, the proportion of patients rated t and healthy prior to knee replacement surgery has fallen by 1% from 12% in 2010 and since 2003, a decline from 31%.

Key facts (knees)* 84,653 knee replacement procedures carried out – an increase of 3.3% over 2010 (81,959)* Patient age and gender was largely unchanged: average age was 67.4 and 56% were female* In 98% of patients, the indication recorded for surgery was osteoarthritis

Ankle joint replacement: key facts

* Ankle replacements have been recorded on the NJR since April 2010 * 492 ankle replacements were recorded and compliance rate overall for this type of joint replacement is 64% (358 were recorded in 2010)* Diagnosis was recorded as osteoarthritis in 88% of cases and of these, 19% had a previous history of fracture and hence post-traumatic osteoarthritis* 75% of procedures were carried out in the NHS sector* 56% of patients were male and average age of patients was 68 years old* The average BMI score was overweight, a higher score than hip replacement procedures but lower than the obese score for knee procedures

European Researchers Develop Pectin-Based Coatings to Improve Biocompatibility of Implants

Medical devices that come in contact with human tissue must be carefully designed to avoid the rejection of implants, for instance. One way of enhancing biocompatibility is application of specialised coatings. European researchers have been working on developing biologically-based coatings that encourage cell activity and colonisation of implants at the same time to impart medical device surfaces with novel bioactive properties. Supported by EU funding of the ‘Nanobiotechnology for the coating of medical devices’ (Pecticoat) project, scientists focused on pectins, a subclass of polysaccharides.

The Pecticoat project studied pectins called rhamnogalacturonans (RGs) and particularly RG-I. Pectins are complex sugars found in the cell walls of land plants. The researchers investigated the important potential of modifying plant RG-I such that it would stimulate cell colonisation of human implants without stimulating in ammation, immune and rejection responses. Careful analysis of mechanisms by which cell activity is induced in host tissue helped scientists design tailor-made pectin-based molecules to improve the biocompatibility of dental implants and other medical devices.

Cooperation with industrial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should help bring Pecticoat coating technology to market quickly with important bene ts for patients, manufacturers and healthcare systems.

Source: Cordis

4 THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL www.otjonline.com

Bipolar and monopolar cables guaranteed for 300 autoclavings

Whilst all other instrument cables have a life of 40 to 50 autoclavings, BOWAs range of bipolar and monopolar cables are guaranteed for a remarkable 300 autoclavings. Using a combination of silicone on their cables; glass bre reinforced plugs; and a unique sealing technology to bond them together, BOWA signi cantly reduces typical damage caused by uid ingress.

This makes BOWA cables the most durable on the market and, costing less than 20p per cycle, unquestionably the best value for money.

Martin Watts, a director of Caterham Surgical, which along with surgical supplier SIGH have the sole UK concession for this popular range of cables, said No other bipolar or monopolar lead can match BOWA for durability, cost per unit and value for money. Other leads only warrant 40 or 50 autoclavings. Of course every lead should still be checked for damage and continuity prior to packing and autoclaving; the routine protocol of every sterile service department. The 300 autoclaves warranty however, gives you the opportunity to record the amount of times you autoclave the product with your tray tracking system as opposed to the more expensive tag/label system.

BOWA cables, whose award winning ergonomics make them the safest and easiest cables to use, are designed for use with most generators on the market.

Further information can be obtained by visiting our websites www.caterhasurgical.co.uk or www.sighltd.com or from: Caterham/SIGH at: Tel: 020 8 683 1103 LoCall: 08435 310 1103 Fax: 020 8 683 1105 Email : [email protected] or: [email protected]

St. Jude Medical Receives European CE Mark Approval of Eon Mini Neurostimulator, the Worlds Smallest Rechargeable Device to

Treat Chronic MigraineAdditional approvals received for Eon and EonC neurostimulators, expanding the device options for physicians to manage the pain and disability associated with intractable chronic migraine

St. Jude Medical, Inc. a global medical device company, today announced it has received European CE Mark approval of its Eon family of neurostimulators for patients with intractable chronic migraine. Unveiled at the European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress in London, this approval includes the Eon Mini neurostimulator, which is the worlds smallest rechargeable neurostimulator with the longest-lasting battery in its class, and the Eon and EonC neurostimulators. Preceding the Eon family approvals, the company received European CE Mark for its Genesis neurostimulation system, the industrys rst regulatory approval for an implanted neurostimulation device to treat patients with intractable chronic migraine.

Intractable chronic migraine is one of the most dif cult-to-treat headache disorders, said Professor Gennaro Bussone, M.D., head of the Neurological Department at Istituto Besta in Milan Italy. By de nition, people living with this condition are spending half their month living with debilitating headaches. This therapy expands our options in helping manage patients who suffer with disabling chronic migraine symptoms.

The Eon and Genesis systems deliver peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of the occipital nerves to manage the pain and disability associated with intractable chronic migraine. This type of migraine is de ned as headache lasting at least four hours per day for 15 or more days per month, causing at least moderate disability, and not responding to three or more preventive drugs. PNS therapy for this condition involves the delivery of mild electrical pulses to the occipital nerves that are located just beneath the skin in the back of the head. A small electrical lead or leads are placed under the skin and connected to the neurostimulator, which produces the pulses of stimulation.

Prior to receiving these approvals, St. Jude Medical conducted a large scale double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical study evaluating PNS to treat the pain and disability associated with chronic migraine. After 12 weeks of stimulation, patients reported an average of six fewer headache days a month. After one year of stimulation, 65 percent of patients reported excellent or good pain relief and 89 percent said they would recommend the procedure to someone else. Study data were presented at the International Headache Congress in 2011 and have been accepted for publication.

Neurostimulation technology represents an exciting new approach to treat intractable chronic migraine, said Eric S. Fain, M.D., president of the St. Jude Medical Implantable Electronic Systems Division. We are proud to be able to offer this potentially life-changing therapy for patients who suffer with this debilitating condition and so desperately need a more effective treatment option.

Eon Mini NeurostimulatorApproximately the size of a mans watch, the rechargeable Eon Mini neurostimulator has a thin 10-mm pro le and weighs 29 grams (approximately 1.0 oz). Its small size allows for a smaller incision, which gives physicians increased exibility in selecting the implant location and is intended to make the site less visible and more comfortable for patients.

Eon NeurostimulatorFeaturing a rechargeable battery, the Eon neurostimulator is designed to provide stimulation over a long period of time, making it a good choice for patients who require high-power stimulation settings and need to use the system for a large percentage of the day. The Eon device can provide sustainable therapy and maintain a reasonable recharge interval for 10 years, potentially resulting in fewer battery replacement surgeries.

EonC NeurostimulatorThe EonC neurostimulator provides a convenient option for patients who prefer or require the simplicity of a non-rechargeable medical device. The device features the greatest battery capacity of any primary cell neurostimulator.

St. Jude Medicals neurostimulators are the only fully implantable neurostimulation devices approved in Europe for the management of the pain and disability associated with intractable chronic migraine. They are also approved in many countries for the management of chronic pain of the trunk and limbs.

For more information about PNS for intractable chronic migraine, visit www.MigraineAnswers.co.uk.

Let’s Get Digital with Portfolio Development!

After 20 years of delivering excellent quality training courses to healthcare professionals, M&K Update are embracing the digital revolution and have launched their own e-learning platform.

With many training companies outsourcing e-learning to other countries such as India the UK based company have decided that where training is concerned British is best. The government-backed e-learning platform will allow users to train in the comfort of their own of ce or home and M&K can even offer bespoke e-learning packages for organisations who require it.

As part of the launch, lucky health professionals get the chance to experience a Portfolio Development course free of charge - 350 have done so in the rst few days - allowing M&K Update to showcase their offering. The launch of their e-learning platform follows years of delivering face to face training courses, conferences and even publishing books reaching a national and global audience.

In the current economic climate M&K Update are proud to be a UK company thriving and speaking from their Lake District base, Ken Russell (Company Director) said;

After working as A&E nurses in 1992 Mike and I saw a gap in the market for effective and top quality healthcare CPD, we have continued to grow over the 20 years and are always looking on to the next opportunity to develop M&K. The advent of the digital era has given us just that opportunity and now we can easily reach a global audience.

The e-learning platform launched 17th September 2012 and you can see for yourself at http://elearning-mkupdate.co.uk don’t forget to make the most of the free course!

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Find out more 02921 680068 • e-mail [email protected] Issue 265 October 2012 5

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Fuji lm publish brochure on their new FDR AcSelerate Csl

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. Following the launch of their next generation FDR AcSelerate, Fuji lm have published a brochure outlining the key product bene ts and features.

The brochure describes how the AcSelerate Csl has become the new pinnacle in diagnostic imaging and provides a streamlined solution that combines dynamic speed and sharp images for an X-ray room of the future.

Full technical details are included, along with colourful images to enhance the readers perception of the system. It describes the new at panel detector with Csl scintillator and Fuji lm’s proprietary “Irradiation Side Sampling” (ISS) technology, which combine to provide unprecedented image quality.

AcSelerate has been ergonomically designed with both user and patient in mind. It has a wide range of movement for various examinations, and a weight capacity of up to 250Kg, providing versatility and performance.

Its lightweight ceiling suspension system and tube head provide smooth movement to any position, any angle and any height within the examination room, whilst its 2400mm x 850mm table with adjustable height of 550mm to 930mm from oor makes it extremely exible for easy positioning and accommodation of patients of all types and sizes.

The eight-page brochure also features information on the increased ef ciency achievable with AcSelerate’s automated functionality, including Auto-Positioning, Auto-Tracking, Auto-Collimation and Auto-Filteration and how these additional features further enhance ef ciency and patient throughput.

For a copy of Fuji lm’s FDR AcSelerate brochure, telephone Fuji lm on 01234 326780.

New Approach Provides a Unique Way to Collect Human BioMaterials on Demand

Tissue Solutions has now been granted approval for a virtual sample collection, allowing researchers to request a range of samples on demand from ethically consented patients. These samples are available to both commercial and non-commercial organisations on approval of a project application. Donors consent in advance to provide specimens, such as blood, urine, saliva and skin biopsies and the samples are collected on a need-to-use basis. The participating clinical sites have access to a wide range of donors and so can provide both diseased and normal control samples often in very specialised areas. Tissue Solutions oversee every step of the process to ensure that samples are collected and processed according to each researchers speci c request.

Prospectively sourced samples from consented patients such as these are much in demand for scienti c research. While banked collections are an invaluable resource, it can sometime be dif cult for researchers to source the exact material required for a project and the lack of harmonisation across organisations can lead to variations in sample and data quality. In the past, researchers considering undertaking their own prospective collection face the dif cult task of locating clinical collaborators with access to suitable donors, obtaining ethical approval for the project and overall management of the study. The practical implications and challenges to such studies are often prohibitive to the individual researcher.

Working in this way is advantageous to both patient and scientist. High quality samples are made available to the scienti c community and donors are assured that their samples will be used in the laboratory for a relevant project and not stored in a long-term freezer. The rapid turn around of the samples means they are of the very highest quality and furthermore the control over sample collection, handling and storage reduces variations and inconsistencies across the samples.

For further information, or to discuss your samples needs directly, please contact [email protected]

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6 THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL www.otjonline.com

Five Companies Share £1.5 Million FundingTo Develop Healthcare Innovations That

Could Save The NHS Over £100mA Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by NHS Midlands and East, Technology Strategy Board, and Department of Health could save the NHS over £100m, as well as safeguarding and creating jobs across the UK by delivering improved patient outcomes through the development of new technology products.

The competition is focussed on supporting patients with long term conditions, to deliver care closer to home. Long term conditions affect around 15 million people in England and the population is growing and therefore becoming more costly, due to the aging population.

The programme has awarded £1.5m to ve companies to undertake the second phase of development of their product ideas. The companies selected were:

Advanced Therapeutic Materials Ltd., based in Warwickshire, put forward an innovative approach to providing long-term care and self-management for patients with lymphoedema – this includes a bespoke compression garment where the patients legs are scanned and garments are ‘knitted’ to match exactly the clinical and patient requirements.

Aseptika Ltd., based in Huntingdon, has devised a home-based rapid and quantative test for bacterial respiratory infections in patients with cystic brosis, leading to a reduction in hospital admissions and stay length and improving healthcare outcomes.

Edixomed Ltd., located in Edinburgh, is working on a nitric oxide dressing for diabetic patients with chronic leg ulcers to enable rapid healing.

Pintrack Ltd., based in Essex has put forward a product called Outminder which is an independent living solution designed to empower people with long-term health conditions to regain independence.

PolyPhotonix Ltd., based in Sedge eld, Co. Durham has created a home-based treatment for diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Karen Livingstone, Director of Strategic Partnerships, NHS Midlands & East said: “Finding innovative solutions to intractable healthcare problems is critical for improved patient care – the NHS is at the leading edge in caring for patients with long term conditions but we know there are many businesses with product ideas that can help. This programme allows the NHS to nd the ‘golden nuggets of ideas’ and fund their development for the NHS to use. “We are delighted to announce the successful companies in the second phase of our SBRI Competition. All of the technologies, which can now be developed further, address different priority areas in long-term conditions.

“These products will not only improve the patient experience but deliver ef ciencies and, improved service for the NHS. Many of the innovations will also give patients greater independence by being able to monitor their conditions in their own homes without having to visit a doctor’s surgery or hospital.”

www.innovateuk.org/deliveringinnovation/smallbusinessresearchinitiative.ashxFor more information please visit www.innovateuk.orgFor further information, please visit: www.hee.org.uk When responding please quote ‘OTJ’

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Queen Alexandra enhances care of pleural effusion patients

with SonoSites S-ICUPortsmouths Queen Alexandra Hospital has recently invested in a SonoSite S-ICU point-of-care ultrasound system to improve the quality and safety of treatment for pleural effusion patients. Professor Anoop Chauhan, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, explained: The British Thoracic Society guidelines recommend that individuals inserting chest drains should have basic training in ultrasound to help them identify the most appropriate and safest place to insert the drain. This reduces the risk and enhances the quality of patient care.

We have been using pleural ultrasound for some years for placing chest drains and performing medical thoracoscopies, and wanted to upgrade our existing system and take advantage of the improved quality offered by newer equipment. Portability was very important to us, and the S-ICU is ideal because it is not big or cumbersome. The image quality is a great improvement on our old system, and the user-friendly interface makes it so much easier to adjust the resolution, depth and gain; the controls that are used most frequently are at your ngertips. As well as providing more con dence in selecting the area where a procedure can take place, the S-ICU enables us to complement the information we give to our patients, on the display and print facility, helping us to explain what needs to be done and why. Weve had the system for a few months now, and not a single day has gone by without it being used in either a clinic or on the wards.

About SonoSite SonoSite, Inc. (www.sonosite.com), a subsidiary of FUJIFILM, is the innovator and world leader in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound and an industry leader in ultra high-frequency micro-ultrasound technology and impedance cardiography equipment. Headquartered near Seattle, the company is represented by ten subsidiaries and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. SonoSite’s small, lightweight systems are expanding the use of ultrasound across the clinical spectrum by cost-effectively bringing high-performance ultrasound to the point of patient care. SonoSite, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of SonoSite, Inc. based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, oversees a direct sales distribution network in the UK and provides sales and marketing support for SonoSite’s European of ces.

For more information about SonoSite products, please contact:SonoSite UK, Alexander House, 40A Wilbury Way, Hitchin SG4 0APT +44 (0)1462 444 800, F +44 (0)1462 444 801E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sonosite.com

Professor Anoop Chauhan with the SonoSite S-ICU

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Find out more 02921 680068 • e-mail [email protected] Issue 265 October 2012 7

01943 878647 [email protected], Guiseley, West Yorkshire, LS20 9JE UK.

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MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY CHOOSES KARL STORZ TO KEEP IT AT THE TOP

The University of Manchester is spending almost £3m fully refurbishing its cadaveric anatomy facility, in a project due for completion by September 2012. KARL STORZ is proud to be working with the university to create the most modern anatomy teaching laboratory in the UK.

The project includes the provision of dedicated space for surgical skills training courses, comprising a classroom, changing room and teaching laboratory. The laboratory will feature KARL STORZ’s impressive new integrated OR1™ NEO operating theatre, complete with endoscopic workstations and a fully integrated audiovisual solution. The University of Manchester will be the rst surgical training centre to offer an integrated operating theatre as part of its training package.

Dr Simon Merrywest from the university says: “We are delighted to be working with KARL STORZ on this new training facility. Our aim has always been to create an environment that closely resembles that of a modern operating theatre, with the latest surgical equipment and support infrastructure. This will be a unique facility in the North West and creates

a superb opportunity to realise a step-change in access to surgical training across the region.”

KARL STORZ has supported various courses in the faculty over the last four years, and was chosen for the project primarily because of its ability to supply all the required equipment and ensure full and seamless integration of all products.

For more information, please contact Colin Dobbyne on 07966 402359 [email protected] When responding to articles please quote ‘OTJ’

Xograph Group Moving to Prestigious New Premises

After 15 years in their current headquarters in Tetbury, Xograph Healthcare and Xograph Technologies are moving to a prestigious new premises near Stonehouse in Gloucestershire.

New Xograph premesis near Stonehouse, Gloucestershire.

The 2.8 acre site, formerly the headquarters of Siemens Flow Instruments in the UK, is situated just 1.5 miles from junction 13 of the M5 motorway and comprises two buildings – a two storey of ce block and a separate manufacturing and warehouse facility.

The move comes just after Xograph has expanded its sales, support and manufacturing teams and will give the leading independent medical equipment supplier plenty of room to cater for their future expansion plans. The new headquarters will contain a permanent, state-of-the-art showroom, training facilities as well as a much larger purpose-built clean room.

Peter Staff, Group CEO for Xograph, says: “I am delighted that, after a year of searching, we have found the perfect site - which is in a location and of a size that enables us to continue with our expansion plans. Xograph Technologies’ new design, development and manufacturing facility as well as our investment in new personnel means that we can now offer an increased service to our partners.”www.xograph.com When responding to articles please quote ‘OTJ’

8 THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL www.otjonline.com

New Xograph Digital X-ray Room for Cheltenham General HospitalCheltenham General Hospital, part of the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have just announced a new Patient’s Choice Award, giving patients and the public an opportunity to recognise the NHS staff who have made a difference to their lives. Keen to continue making a difference, the hospital has enhanced its imaging service with the purchase of a BuckyStar Intuition direct digital general radiography system from leading independent medical equipment supplier Xograph Healthcare.

The awards are part of an annual scheme run by the trust and are designed to recognise the efforts of those special employees or groups of staff who demonstrate exceptional patient care. Complimenting this, Xograph BuckyStar Intuition uses a lightweight motor-assisted ceiling suspended X-ray tube support, motorised patient table and a wall stand combined with the ultra-fast Canon Digital Radiography (DR) system to ensure that patient wait time and examination time is reduced to the minimum whilst

making the working environment for radiography personnel as pleasant, stress-free and ef cient as possible.

The Intuition in Cheltenham features two latest generation Canon 125 m direct digital at panel detectors, one being a wireless portable model, the 9.5 Megapixel, 35x43cm ‘CXDI-70C Wireless’ and the other an 11.3 megapixel 43x42cm CXDI-401C xed detector. Images are viewed in-room on the 23” touch-screen user interface. Canon’s durable and well-proven portable CXDI-70C detector can be used in a conventional table or wall stand cassette tray and is removable to allow use around the room as well as allowing sharing between other rooms and mobile X-ray units.

Laurie Bradley, Superintendent Radiographer at Cheltenham General Hospital said: “We are very pleased with the image quality and exceptional low dose in clinical use coupled with its exibility and lightweight detector. The BuckyStar Assist system represents great value with no compromise on image quality.”

Paul Andrews, Commercial Manager at Xograph Healthcare Ltd said: “I am so pleased Cheltenham General Hospital have purchased the BuckyStar Intuition as this enhancement will keep them at the forefront of radiography innovations.” www.xograph.com

Liam Neill, Territory Manager at Xograph Healthcare Ltd with Rebecca Morris, Christine Dooley, Aleksandra Wisniewski, Rose Skinner and Laurie Bradley, Superintendent Radiographer from Cheltenham General Hospital.

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Brits Lack Anatomical Awareness poll shows

Half of us are unable to correctly identify the location of our heart, according to new research by the Museum of London.

The revealing statistic comes ahead of the opening of a new Museum of London exhibition exploring the relationship between sinister Resurrection Men and pioneering anatomical surgeons in early 19th century London,

The survey tested 2,000 Britons on their knowledge of anatomy and the results indicate a worrying ignorance of body basics. The survey was carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the Museum of London.

Findings include:

• 50% of those surveyed were unable to correctly identify the location of their heart;

• 60% could not name their own blood type while only a third (35%) of could correctly; state that the average adult has between ve and six litres of blood;

• A puzzled 62% have no clue about the purpose of their pancreas; • Three quarters (75%) were stumped when it came to guessing how many

bones are in the adult human body; • Half were unsure as to how many teeth we have while nearly a fth (18%)

thought a visor was a type of tooth; • Three quarters (74%) did not know that the liver is our biggest internal

organ; • And nearly half (47%) of the respondents couldnt get anywhere near to

guessing the healthy temperature of the human body (37C).

Jelena Bekvalac, Museum of London Osteology Curator, said It seems we have a depressing lack of anatomical awareness. The Museum of Londons new exhibition, Doctors, Dissection and Resurrection Men explores the extreme lengths nineteenth century medical pioneers went to increase anatomical understanding. Surgeons faced a torturous dilemma: learn their skills on stolen corpses or practice on a living patient. And so began a gruesome trade. Body-snatchers stalked the citys graveyards to supply fresh corpses for medical dissection. Londoners were fearful of the shadowy resurrection men; dissection was then considered a shameful fate. It is therefore sobering to consider our less than exemplary knowledge of basic biology.

Doctors, Dissection and Resurrection Men opens to the public on 19 October 2012 www.museumo ondon.org.uk/ddrm.

New authoritative guide to Good Clinical Practice

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is launching a brand new publication the Good Clinical Practice Guide covers the legislation, guidance and good practice that relates to the conduct of clinical trials of medicinal products for human use in the UK.

The Good Clinical Practice Guide will be bene cial for any individual or organisation involved in conducting clinical trials with medicines in the UK. This includes both commercial and non-commercial sponsors and hosts of clinical trials, as well as contract research organisations, clinical research consultants and other niche providers. As the guide references European legislation and guidance as well as international standards, it will also be relevant to organisations conducting clinical trials across Europe and beyond.

It is intended that this guide will complement currently available legislation and guidance and provide practical advice about implementing the principles of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) across the wide range of trials conducted in the UK, within the context of the clinical trial regulatory framework in the European Union. Written and produced by the MHRA, this is the only guide on GCP produced by a regulatory authority that is available within Europe.

The guide covers all the different areas of clinical trials, for example sponsor oversight, applying for authorisation for the trial to the MHRA and obtaining an opinion from an Ethics Committee. It also covers the conduct and management of clinical trials in chapters covering the investigational medicinal product, documentation, management of data, safety reporting and quality systems. Specialist topics such as advanced therapies and technologies for managing drug supplies are also included.

Gerald Heddell, MHRA Director of Inspection, Enforcement and Standards said, It was recognised that there was a need to provide additional information to those involved with GCP and therefore this guide has been produced. While this guide does not replace existing documents on the subject, it does offer valuable practical guidance on GCP and how it is possible to comply within the existing legal framework.

www.mhra.gov.uk

The Good Clinical Practice Guide is available from The Stationary Of ce (TSO) and the MHRA Good Clinical Practice section of its website

Transfusion Set for Blood or Blood Components

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Find out more 02921 680068 • e-mail [email protected] Issue 265 October 2012 9

10 THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL www.otjonline.com

Fukuda Denshi appoint a Business Manager for France and Germany

to expand their Distributor Network

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 are pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Martin as Business Manager for France and Germany.

Following unprecedented European growth, Fukuda Denshi has appointed Simon Martin to assist them in expanding their European Distributor network with speci c emphasis on France and Germany. Previously Area Sales Manager for Baxa Ltd, Simon has a BSc (Hons) in European Business & Technology as well as a Masters (MA) in European Integration and Co-operation, and brings a wealth of experience to Fukuda Denshi.

Terry Rickwood, Managing Director of Fukuda Denshi UK commented on Simon’s appointment, saying: “Simon is a highly capable and technically minded strategic business account manager which makes him ideal for this developmental role. In addition he has a wealth of experience in the medical devices industry, having spent the past seven years with Baxa Limited in various management roles. We’re very pleased to have Simon on board to assist us in our expansion plans.”

Simon is uent in French, and also speaks German, Spanish, and of course his native language, English. Of his new role within Fukuda Denshi, Simon added: “I’ve been looking for an opportunity to move into an exciting European Sales role as I’ve always enjoyed this area of the business and I wanted to make use of my languages. Working with Fukuda Denshi to expand their European Distributor network is an ideal challenge for me as it allows me to make full use of my skills.”

For more information, telephone Fukuda Denshi on 01483 728065.

ermany.y

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Brandon Medical Win Funding for

‘The Perfect Surgical Light’Brandon Medical has won a major award grant from the Technology Strategy Board Smart scheme. The award includes funding that will be used for the development of the ‘Perfect Surgical Light’ creating a step change solution in surgical lighting technology.

The surgical light is still the key item of equipment in a modern operating theatre. If a surgeon cannot see properly, they cannot work safely and effectively. There are key issues that must be addressed in the development of such medical lighting technology. The key parameters are colour rendition (Ra), visible red rendition (R9), light intensity, heat emission, uniformity of illuminated eld, beam shape and shadow reduction.

Brandon Medical has already addressed these issues in the development of their breakthrough HD-LED technology. HD-LED technology produces extremely high colour rendition, visible red rendition (R9 = 98) and at extremely high energy ef ciency. With the aid of the Technology Strategy Board award, Brandon aim to push the boundaries of HD-LED technology to create the “perfect” surgical light.

Managing Director Graeme Hall comments: “The Smart grant will enable us to further advance our patented HD-LED technology for next generation medical applications. We have an opportunity to create a world beating operating theatre light that will be suitable for UK and export markets at a competitive price. The technology has already proved to be hugely successful and we are aiming to take LED lighting, and our product range to the next level.”

Smart is a Technology Strategy Board scheme offering support to small and medium-sized enterprises to engage in R&D projects in science, engineering and technology with the aim of developing new products, processes and services.

For further information on any of Brandon Medical’s products, please contact, Tel: 0113 277 7397 Email: [email protected] or visit www.brandon-medical.com

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New Survey Reveals That People Accept, Even Welcome, a Bigger Role for Private Hospitals

Nearly two-thirds of people (64 per cent) believe the role for private hospitals in healthcare will increase in the future and four in ten rate this as a good thing according to the ndings of an independent study released last month (September).

With 41 per cent of respondents welcoming an expanded involvement and just a quarter disapproving, around a third of the population (34 per cent) are undecided.

The research commissioned by the Spire Bristol Hospital quizzed 2,000 UK adults and results revealed that more than half of the British population, 53 per cent, are of the view that all future health needs cannot be afforded through taxation as the burden was too great.

Whilst presently the public attitude to private hospitals was neutral or negative this seems set to change.

More than a third of the public (34 per cent) believed the reputation of private hospital will improve in the future more than three times the number that think the reputation will decline.

Rob Anderson, director at Spire Bristol said: It matters for any organisation to understand what people think about its performance and the contribution it makes even more so when that organisation delivers healthcare.

This is an important insight into what people expect from hospitals they know will deliver more of the treatment and care they will receive in the future.

Respondents were asked to identify and prioritise both the advantages and disadvantages of private hospitals. Some 35 per cent believed the advantages outweighed the disadvantages whilst 22 per cent disagreed.

Rob Anderson of Spire Bristol: There are still some myths around private hospitals, like the false assumption that the majority of the work is cosmetic surgery and that we cherry pick the simple procedures, and we need to address that. However, we start from a position where the public does have real con dence in our standards and performance.

When asked about the quality of care; the record on being clean and safe; and not being involved in health scares then the public sentiment was that private hospitals outperformed NHS hospitals.

On providing quality of care to patients, nearly twice as many respondents agreed that private hospitals fared better than thought not. On being clean and safe, 46 per cent felt private hospitals had a better record and less than one in ve thought not.

Some 29 per cent of respondents believed that the private sector was less likely to be involved in scandals about treatments and success rates than the NHS and 19 per cent thought it more likely.

Whilst there is a concern from more than a third (36 per cent ) that it is wrong for an organisation to make money out of healthcare, a greater proportion, some 54 per cent, did not mind if a pro t was made in hospitals providing high standards of care and ef ciency.

The research also revealed that 85 per cent believe that the priority for any hospital was to be clean, safe and comfortable.

Find out more 02921 680068 • e-mail [email protected] Issue 265 October 2012 11

EHI Live, the two day conference and free exhibition where the eHealth community meets, will take place

once again early next month.Hospital executives, IT professionals, and clinicians discuss and debate the issues facing those who are involve in healthcare IT and want to use it to improve the ef ciency and quality of the health service. The event takes place on 6-7 November 2012, at the NEC, Birmingham.

Exhibiting at EHI Live will be Redwing Business Intelligence, specialists in hospital analytics. This company helps hospitals to save money and achieve higher performance of their Operating Theatres.

Effective implementation of ef ciency programmes need solid information on performance. We offer a service to NHS Trusts to provide that information direct to the desks of Trust management and staff. This is done by presenting consolidated and useful information straight to their screens. Alongside comes training and documentation on how to use the analytics and information we provide, to best effect.

Our agship service provides summary and detailed Operating Room Intelligence to clinical staff, operating theatre managers and Surgical Directorate executives. ORIOLE provides the information needed to get maximum ef ciency from Theatre Units. Improving ef ciency by just a few percentage points can generate several hundreds of thousands of pounds savings per year.

We provide the information required to ‘Know How We are Doing’; which is the rst step to running an effective and sustainable Productive Operating Theatre.

King sher Solution / Blanket Warming Cabinets

High level of speci cation, including: 6 models in range 72 to 228 litres (12-48 bottle) Precise temperature control Tamper-proof controls Special IV rack available

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Redwing is not a software package vendor. Traditionally, Trusts have had to spend much money on buying, installing, running, and supporting software packages themselves. Doing things that way is expensive, means hiring staff, and requires capital budget allocations and expenditures. Instead, Redwing provides a new generation of cloud-based services, where we look after all the nuts and bolts, and the Trust gets the bene ts.

We deliver management information (business intelligence) to Trust executive and management over the N3 secure network direct to screens. This is ‘cloud computing’ for the NHS.

Redwing is inviting Trusts to take a free ‘test drive’ of ORIOLE. Trusts can get a head start on Operating Room Intelligence, and assess ORIOLE in their own environments at no cost to themselves. The website contains more details of this offer.

Demonstrations of ORIOLE can be seen throughout the event at stand F1.

For more information, please call Chris Kelly on 0(798) 598-0833 or email [email protected]. The website is at:www.Redwing-BI.com

Government should bin postcode pay for public sector workers, says Unite

Unite, Britain’s biggest union, is urging the government to scrap plans for regional pay, as new research echoes the unions concerns that it will lead to postcode pay in the public sector.

Plans to break up national pay agreements for local pay deals will be a bureaucratic nightmare and introduce postcode pay where pay is determined not on the job you do, but where you live, warns Unite.

The union warns that the changes will lead to public sector workers being paid different rates of pay, despite performing the same job, depending on where they live in the country. With workers in poorer areas getting less, local economies will suffer and as pay is driven down a new north-south divide will emerge.

Responding to today’s (Tuesday, 25 September) publication of a new TUC survey, Gail Cartmail, Unite assistant general secretary said: Unite has said all along that breaking up national agreements for regional pay systems is a backwards step that will make it harder for hospitals and schools in more deprived areas and in far ung parts of the country to recruit and retain staff.

We believe that national pay agreements promote equality and fairness - whether you are a nurse in Cornwall or a nurse in Doncaster, if you do the same job you should get the same pay.

Moves to introduce postcode pay have nothing to do with improving services or patient care - it is about driving down pay and priming public sector workforces for privatisation plain and simple.

Most big private sector employers, such as BT and Marks & Spencer, recognise that a national system is the fairest and most ef cient way to set pay. We will not tolerate the government destroying national pay agreements, whether in the NHS or local government.

Recent moves by 20 Trusts in the South West to tear up the National Agenda for Change the NHS grading and pay framework for all NHS for locally negotiated pay deals illustrates the lengths bosses will go to cut workers pay and terms and conditions.twitter.com/#!/OTJOnline

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12 THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL www.otjonline.com

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New Digital X-ray Room at St. Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight

Super Gel Provides Insight into Novel Cartilage Repair StrategiesCartilage degeneration is one of the most common conditions found in the joints of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), a disease which is reported to affect 13.9% of adults in the US aged 25 and older, and 33.6% (12.4 million) of those aged 65 and above. The social burden of OA is likely to increase at a greater pace in the future, due to the prevalence of obesity and an unprecedented increase in the elderly population, making cartilage degeneration a huge healthcare problem.

Articular cartilage injuries are one of the most challenging issues in musculoskeletal medicine, due to a poor intrinsic ability of this tissue to repair, and a lack of treatments showing long-term ef cacy which has prompted research into tissue engineering (an in vitro strategy incorporating cells, scaffolds and cellular factors to regenerate functional tissue).

These efforts seem to have paid off. A team of material engineers at Harvard, led by Professor Zhigang Suo, has developed an extremely stretchy, robust, biocompatible and self-healing hydrogel, which researchers believe has the potential to become a next-generation cartilage repair treatment option for human joint defects.

Treatments for OA aim to reduce pain and consequent immobility, and therapeutic strategies vary depending on the degree of severity. The management of patients with OA in the early stages mainly consists of lifestyle changes and pharmacological analgesics, but for OA in the advanced stages, surgical interventions (e.g. autologous chondrocyte implantation) and device-based treatment modalities (e.g. joint replacement implantation) are often regarded as the primary therapeutic options. However, in most cases these invasive therapies do not typically replicate the structural characteristics of healthy cartilage with its associated biomechanical properties, resulting in failed cartilage regeneration and the need for complex revision surgeries. Considering the drawbacks of current surgical approaches, as well as a crowded global joint replacement implant market, there is massive commercial interest in the emerging area of tissue engineering.

Hydrogels are widely used as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering research because of their great biocompatibility and elasticity, yet the scope of their applications is often limited due to low stretchability and poor mechanical stability. For a gel to work in those settings, it has to be able to stretch and expand under compression

and tension without breaking, said one of the contributors, Jeong-Yun Sun. Unlike conventional hydrogels, this newly synthesized gel is capable of maintaining its enhanced toughness and elasticity over multiple stretches, and is able to stretch to 21 times its original length. This newly synthesized hydrogel is a strong hybrid polymer created by using a mixture of polyacrylamide and alginate to create a complex network far stronger than gels formed from polyacrylamide or alginate alone. The chemical structure of this network allows the whole structure to pull apart very slightly over a large area instead of permitting the gel to crack. Even with a huge crack, the gel was found to still stretch to 17 times its initial length. A hydrogel of this superior stretchability, toughness and recoverability is likely to become the perfect scaffold, providing great promise for developing a novel cartilage repair strategy using a tissue engineering approach.This exciting development will take researchers a step closer to designing novel functional cartilage tissue substitutes to challenge the current treatment paradigm for cartilage repair. In addition, GlobalData expects further research in regards to the potential clinical bene ts introduced by this next-generation cartilage scaffold, which could have enormous market implications.

Gill Martill, Radiographer Practitioner, Andrew Stant, Radiographer Practitioner, Carole Thornton-Todd, Radiographer Practitioner, Debbie Bienek, Advanced Practitioner, and Laura Thompson, Radiographer Practitioner at St. Marys Hospital with Liam Neill, Territory Manager at Xograph Healthcare.

A new direct digital X-ray system has been installed at St. Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight comprising ‘turnkey’ room refurbishment followed by installation of a ‘BuckyStar T2 Precision’ direct digital general radiography system from leading independent medical equipment supplier Xograph Healthcare.

The new X-ray equipment arrives as St. Marys Hospital take measures to cope with the vast increase in patients, which has seen a rise, on average, of 150 more patients per month attending the Emergency Department since the New Year. In the month of April alone over 100 more patients were admitted to the

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

main hospital for treatment from the Emergency Department than in the previous April.

The BuckyStar T2 Precision general radiography system is now helping to alleviate the pressure as it increases work ow ef ciency whilst decreasing examination time through the use of a high quality, direct image capturing process. In addition to a xed 11.3 megapixel at panel detector in the DR Wall Stand, the con guration also includes a lightweight portable Canon CXDI-70C wireless 35x43cm detector which offers a high level of versatility in Digital Radiography rooms by allowing direct imaging anywhere within the room, potentially sharing between rooms and also being available for mobile radiographic examinations.

In order to further alleviate bottlenecks throughout the hospital, Xograph also provided St Marys Hospital with a ‘MobileDaRt Evolution Wireless’ equipped with a Canon CXDI-70C wireless 35x43cm detector and a Canon CXDI-80C wireless 27x35cm detector for use in Ward, Emergency and Paediatric Medicine.

Amanda Shaw, Superintendant Radiographer at St Mary’s Hospital said: “Xograph Healthcare was

our company of choice as they could provide us with greater imaging exibility due to the wide range of detector sizes and their interoperability between the DR room and DR mobile. We had an extremely tight deadline for the purchase and installation of all the equipment and Xograph delivered on both well within the allotted time. We are extremely pleased with the image quality of the Xograph BuckyStar T2 Precision and the MobileDart Evolution DR

systems. We would not hesitate to purchase further equipment from Xograph in the future.”

Paul Andrews, Commercial Manager at Xograph said: “I am glad we could be of assistance to St. Marys Hospital and I am con dent that this market-leading DR detector technology will give them immediate and lasting bene ts.”

About Xograph Healthcarewww.xograph.com

Find out more 02921 680068 • e-mail [email protected] Issue 265 October 2012 13

Howard Wright M7 from Europa Medical ServicesEuropa Medical Services are pleased to announce the launch of the rst low cost powered theatre trolley in the UK,

the Howard Wright M7.

The New Zealand built trolley has powered height; back; leg and trendelenburg functions together with a quick CPR back rest release and battery back up as standard - no more manual handling!

No matter how heavy the patient, positioning the patient is a single person operation, at the touch of a button.

The vertically operated cot sides are power assisted and auto-locking and ensure a virtual zero transfer gap.

Amazingly, the M7 lowers to just 400 mm, the lowest of any trolley, for easier access even from a wheelchair and with a 300 kg maximum patient weight the M7 really is the perfect partner in the operating theatre and recovery.

Lightweight and easy to move, the M7 comes with fth wheel steering, at no additional cost, so it can turn and manoeuvre in very tight spaces.

Special attention has been given in the design of the trolley to ensure it is quick and easy to clean between patients.

The M7 can be supplied with an x-ray platform and a range of specialist accessories to ensure the trolley can be made to your exact speci cation.

The M7 clearly demonstrates Howard Wrights design philosophy “Simple, Smart and Human” not surprising it has won so many design awards.

To see the M7 in action why not take a minute to watch our video on YouTube, go to Howard Wright M7 or use this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRPCS0aKupE

The Howard Wright range of products is available exclusively in the UK from Europa Medical ServicesTelephone 0845 658 4328 or email Sales@ Euoropamedical.co.uk

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Medical Monitoring Systems Evolve to Cater for the Aging Population

The evolution of medical monitoring devices is spurring on developments in the semiconductor industry, states a new report by business experts GBI Research.

The new report* states that semiconductors form an essential element in many patient monitoring devices, and the pressure is on to better serve individuals with smaller, faster, and more advanced gizmos.

The global population is aging and the prevalence of chronic diseases is growing, so the demand for healthcare services is interminably increasing. As many national healthcare programs attempt to cut expenditure, there is a growing need for reliable and cost-effective technology to provide round-the-clock observation of critically ill patients, and the use of technology could help to alleviate staf ng pressures.

Patient monitoring can track an individuals blood pressure, temperature, oxygen-saturation, or respiration, and can also offer data conversion, processing and controlling. Semiconductors are embedded in patient monitoring devices, and are critically important for the device to operate. The sale of semiconductors therefore increases as the demand for patient monitoring devices climbs. Developments in semiconductor technologies also mean leaps and bounds in progress for patient monitoring abilities.

Small and portable patient monitoring devices represent an improvement in a patients quality of life, as they allow treatment to be conducted in more convenient locations at home or elsewhere. Semiconductor components are therefore steadily shrinking to meet this need, becoming more compact in order to downsize the monitoring equipment. The miniaturization of patient monitoring devices, obtained through cutting-edge semiconductor technology, opens the possibility of mounting equipment within mobile clinics, ambulances and doctors of ces. Thin- lm capacitors, resistors and substrate technologies, alongside System-in-Package (SiP) IC technology and high-energy batteries can help in this.

GBI Research expects the market for semiconductors in patient monitoring devices to grow at a high rate over the next few years, from $1.8 billion in 2011 to $2.4 billion by 2015. This will be due to their increasing number of applications in various patient monitoring devices, and the growing demand for telehealth monitoring services and wireless devices. The global market is expected to change signi cantly, with developing countries in Asia-Paci c emerging as a powerful rival to the matured market in North America.

Maquet Surgical Workplaces Launches Two New Products To Further Improve

Flexibility In The Operating RoomMAQUET Surgical Workplaces, a leading name in technical innovation for operating theatre equipment, announced today that it has launched two new products, TRIOP and VOLISTA, which are designed to improve the exibility and performance of the operating theatre for hospitals and surgeons. TRIOP is a modular suspension system that offers versatility needed to organize a multi-disciplinary operating suite and VOLISTA, an extension of the TRIOP system, is the rst modular surgical light designed to regulate the illumination reaching the surgeon’s eye.

:”The development of the TRIOP suspension system and the VOLISTA surgical light is the result of our commitment to providing our customers with products that meet their evolving needs in the operating room,” said Frédéric Herpin, Vice President, Marketing, MAQUET Surgical Workplaces. :”While the VOLISTA surgical light will provide a comfortable and accurate view of the patient for the surgeon, TRIOP will offer a revolutionary interface that gives the surgeon the ability to select from a full range of lightheads, display holders, cameras and other tools on a procedure-by-procedure basis.”

TRIOP is a modular suspension system that utilizes the revolutionary Connect to Operate (C2OP) interface, which allows a full range of lightheads, display holders, cameras and other tools to be combined at will on a single suspension. The accessories are easily interchangeable, meaning that the needs of different medical specialities no longer have to be balanced against operating theatre occupancy criteria. Tools can now be pooled, ensuring that each surgeon has the ideal equipment for each operation.

The VOLISTA surgical light is an extension of the TRIOP system and incorporates MAQUET’s innovative Luminance Management Device (LMD), a patent-pending system designed to regulate the illumination reaching the surgeon’s eye. LMD provides surgeons a clear and accurate view of anatomical structures during surgery, visual comfort with minimal peripheral re ections and assures surgeons of equivalent light levels when they look at dark cavities or light tissue. VOLISTA is also very modular as it offers the surgeon the possibility to choose up to three colour temperatures (3900, 4500 or 5100°K), thus adapting the illumination based on the surgery being performed.

For more information please visit http://www.maquet.com and http://www.getingegroup.com.

14 THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL www.otjonline.com

ScalpelScalpelA new ‘cutting edge’ discussion forum for all

those involved with patient careand the operating theatre environment.

Start a discussion, Join a discussion, Offer your opinion, Have your say.

http://otjonline.com/scalpel/

“The South and West

Wales ODP Professional Network”

Our aim is to create a channel to promote best practice, discuss professional issues and education and to hopefully give ourselves a proactive voice so we can be involved in the, ever changing, healthcare arena. The group is to be for ODP’s, run by ODP’s and all are welcome.

For further information contact:Lee Fyfe Chair South and West Wales ODP Professional Network

E-mail: [email protected]

Actress Sarah Parish of cially opens New Operating Theatre

The new fth operating theatre at Spire Southampton Hospital was of cially opened yesterday by popular television actress Sarah Parish.

Sarah has previously spent some time at the hospital observing surgery in preparation for her role as a heart surgeon in the drama series “Monroe”, which rst aired in 2011 and will return to our screens for a second series next month.

Sarah is also well known for her roles in the popular television dramas Mistresses and Cutting It.

Sarah said, “It’s lovely to be invited back to the hospital to be a part of this special event. Any improvements that bene t a patient’s experience are really worthwhile so this new theatre is a great addition. The staff at Spire Southampton Hospital were very friendly and complete professionals, and it was great to see them again.”

Hospital Director Jane Whitney Smith said, “We are delighted to welcome Sarah back to the hospital for the theatre opening event. She is a popular face on the nation’s television screens and has worked with us before, so she seemed the perfect choice to come and cut the ribbon. We’re grateful to her for making time in her busy schedule for us.“The new theatre has provided jobs for local people and means we can meet growing demand for operations, which has improved our level of service for patients.”

The theatre was created using an innovative technique of building it away from the hospital site to minimise disruption for patients, staff and the local community, and it features a laminar ow air system. This ‘ultra clean’ air system further helps to reduce the risk of infection for patients undergoing surgery.

The second series of Munroe started on October 1.

Health professionals ocking down under

According to migration specialists in the past ve years the number of doctors migrating down under has tripled.

Paul Arthur, managing director of migration specialists The Emigration Group said: In the past ve years the number of permanent visas for Australia issued to UK doctors has almost tripled and our rm has been dealing with more and more medical professionals across the board looking to move down under.

Many are attracted by the good weather and the appeal of a better way of life, but there are also sound career reasons to move down under.

According to Paul, many people working in the medical profession can expect to enjoy shorter hours and higher pay in Australia compared to the UK.

Paul said: Ive dealt with everything from junior doctors struggling to get decent experience in the UK to experienced medical professionals heading overseas. Migrants Ive advised now enjoy better pay and a better work life balance down under.

He added: In the last two years in particular Ive seen more and more enquiries from medical professionals, which is no doubt a result of the changes going on in the NHS. With people facing being down graded, having salary cuts or in some cases being made redundant a career down under is proving to have a huge appeal.

According to Paul, Australia and its counterpart New Zealand are both conducting one of the biggest migration drives in 40 years, and with many in the medical profession in huge demand down under, there shouldn’t be a problem for applicants to qualify for a visa.

He said: Medical professionals are in demand in both countries and applicants should nd it relatively easy to get the points they need to qualify for a full residency visa. Australia has even reduced the pass mark needed to qualify, making it easier for migrants looking to emigrate. For people who are looking to further their career and have a better work life balance, now is the time to emigrate, there wont be a better opportunity.

For more information about emigration to New Zealand and Australia visit www.emigrationgroup.co.uk or call 01244 321414.

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