FEATURE ARTICLES

Why is it such a struggle for women to get to the top in healthcare science? There is no simple answer, of course, and the reasons are multifactorial. Here, Valerie Bevan considers the issues and outlines her experiences.

In light of the pressures of delivering digital transformation at scale, clinical teams need more support and investment to ensure IT systems are safe to use and fit for purpose, as Stephen Seagreen-Bell explains.

A campaign to raise awareness of sepsis in Scotland, combined with the introduction of the latest technology in microbiology, has had a positive impact on the speed of clinical intervention and potential outcomes in the fight against this serious condition, as Janet Young explains.

SHOT laboratory incident specialist Victoria Tuckley summarises the 2018 Annual Report, and highlights how to create safer transfusion practices, a more satisfactory working environment and improved patient safety.

In the fight against sepsis, modern haematology and haemostasis technology can assist laboratories looking to provide an early diagnosis of this devastating condition caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

In this seventh article in a series on internal quality control, Stephen MacDonald moves on from the monitoring of process with rules, to focus this month on the various ways that control can be charted.

Tim Woods collates abstracts that reflect proceedings of the UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation annual scientific and participants’ two-day meeting, which was held at Sheffield Hallam University earlier in the year.

Following on from the research undertaken in Cardiff on the impact of telomere length in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia progression (see page 7), a search of the current literature on this important element of chromosome structure, and its complementary enzyme, illustrates the diverse effects they have in health and disease.

First appearing over four decades ago, the viral haemorrhagic disease that takes its name from a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to blight the region of sub-Saharan Africa. The following selection of free-to-access papers found in the recent literature provide a flavour of current research efforts.

Next month, the International Convention Centre in Birmingham will host one of the largest gatherings of biomedical and life science companies held anywhere in the world. The following selection of brief exhibitor previews provides a taste of what IBMS Biomedical Science Congress delegates and visitors may find to interest them on individual stands in the exhibition.

Next month, the biennial IBMS Congress series returns to the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. Delegates and visitors to the event will find the very best that biomedical science and commercial colleagues have to offer. Here, Pathology in Practice provides a preview of the scientific programme and the supporting exhibition.

The CliniSys national conference was given an update on pathology networks and the roll-out of the Getting It Right First Time programme, heard the latest thinking from NHSX, and an opportunity to debate why innovation is vital. Matthew Fouracre reports from The Belfry.

In all aspects of 21st-century healthcare, cyber security is critical. In this brief overview, Ram Vaidhyanathan explores the impact of cyber threats on the healthcare environment and shares his tips for better protection.

An innovative vacuum packing solution has been adopted in order to reduce formalin use and exposure throughout the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in Wales, as the following overview of progress illustrates.

In addition to the changing technology used by the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programmes, FIT is rapidly becoming more popular as a triage tool for patients presenting with abdominal symptoms, reducing the immediate need for colonoscopy investigations. Here, Callum G Fraser explores the need for low faecal haemoglobin concentration estimates.

The first multi-site installation of a new modular automated haematology platform is enabling efficient, secure cross-city haematology working. Fully validated and networked, the new system supports a future-proofed, integrated approach to service planning and delivery.

With the increasing reliance on complex and expensive technology, and the loss of highly qualified personnel, Daniel Chapman explores how outsourcing can help solve the challenges faced by diagnostics.

The 34th Annual Scientific Symposium of the British Society for Microbial Technology took place in May at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon. On behalf of the BSMT committee, Mark Wilks reports on a day of inspiration and excellence.

In this sixth article in a series on internal quality control, Stephen MacDonald moves on from the detection of potentially medically important errors, to focus this month on the rules applied to monitor the control of assay performance.

Order communications and results transfer have now been facilitated between different electronic patient record systems in Cambridge. Here, staff from Addenbrooke’s and Papworth hospitals discuss this digital revolution.