03 2013 spotlight

SpotLight Activa Healthcare launches leg health awareness campaign Smith & Nephew has announced two independent clinica...

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SpotLight Activa Healthcare launches leg health awareness campaign

Smith & Nephew has announced two independent clinical evaluations that indicate favourable results in preventing surgical site infections (SSI) when using the PICO™ Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System post operatively following a Caesarean section. The first study followed 50 patients who were deemed of higher risk of contracting an infection post-C-section due to being clinically obese, and who were treated with a protocol including PICO. The results showed that there were no infections and zero re-admissions. The results of a second post-operative strategy showed an 83% reduction in surgical site infections (SSI). This study adopted a similar protocol including PICO as part of standard treatment for postsurgical management of Csections in high-risk patients. www.mypico.com www.possiblewithpico.com

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Temperature controlled MiniPorter™ carrier from Helapet Designed for the easy and secure transportation of temperature sensitive medicines from site to site, Helapet are pleased to offer their fully qualified MiniPorter™ carrying system. Using MediCool™ packs to provide a fully temperature controlled environment, the MiniPorter™ can accommodate several medical samples between 2°C and 8°C for up to 18 hours. Extremely lightweight with a robust outer bag and a long shoulder strap for easy handling, the Helapet MiniPorter™ is supplied with full testing data and in-depth advice from their dedicated Cold-Chain specialist. As part of the complete range of qualified Porter carrying systems, Helapet prides itself on providing the best solution for your transportation needs. For a free demonstration and trial contact Helapet or visit their website to learn more. 0800 0328 428 www.helapet.co.uk

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PICO™ Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System

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Activa Healthcare, supported by TV presenter, broadcaster and vice-president of The Patient’s Association Angela Rippon, is launching The Activa LegHealth Campaign. This initiative aims to help increase leg health awareness amongst the general public, and provide nurses with the resources to help educate patients about the importance of looking after their legs. New research commissioned by the company reveals that despite the prevalence of leg health problems, only 36% of people surveyed sought advice from a healthcare professional, and just 4% wore compression hosiery to help relieve their symptoms. Activa has produced a patient leaflet ‘Taking Care of your Legs’ featuring Angela. For free copies, call Activa, or alternatively direct your patients to the website below. These resources support nurses on their mission to help patients recognise early warning signs and symptoms 08450 606 707 www.activahealthcare.co.uk

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With the current pressure for the NHS to achieve savings of £20bn by 2015, the time is right for systems that provide both clinical and costeffectiveness. This makes the NHS Supply Chain’s recent adoption of Eykona’s solution timely, in that this portable, easy to use, 3D imaging camera affords the opportunity to make considerable savings by accurately measuring and characterising wounds. This system provides definitive measurements not only of the size, but also of the scar or blemish, with its pioneering software analysing the colour and texture of tissue present. Such accurate measurements of changes in size and tissue condition have the potential to revolutionise wound care assessment and practice. [email protected] www.eykona.com

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The Zeroderma range from T+R Derma offers a comprehensive range of emollients, equivalent to leading emollient brands, with cost savings of up to 37%. The range includes four creams, one ointment and two bath oils. All products are sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) free and the range offers complete emollient therapy for moisturising, washing and bathing. Zeroderma products are similar in formulation to approximately 40 per cent of currently prescribed emollients. Several PCT’s have now adopted the range onto their formularies and cost savings are being made without compromising on patient care. All Zeroderma products are available on prescription and many are now listed on NHS contract. For further information or to receive a sample size of a Zeroderma product for patient evaluation, healthcare professionals can email: [email protected] www.trderma.co.uk 01484 82217

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Low cost Zeroderma Eykona®

SpotLight To inform JCN readers about your latest products, services or resources in the SpotLight feature, please email: [email protected] or call: 020 8642 0162 Journal of Community Nursing March/April 2013, volume 27, issue 2

octenilin® effective against biofilms

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going on? How did she ever qualify and why was this incompetence not dealt with earlier? Were colleagues covering up for her? How can we know that this incompetence hasn’t caused harm? A lot of people have a lot of questions to answer…

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armer’s wives across the country will be heaving a sigh of relief and putting their carving knives back in the cutlery drawer. Scientists have restored the sight of blind mice. Presumably they tested the new light-sensing cell injection into at least 3 creatures, thus consigning to the history books, a nursery rhyme that didn’t make any sense in the first place.

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ow that we are in the second quarter of 2013, how are your New Year resolutions going? Here at LW Towers, only one New Year’s resolution has been admitted to; the nameless member of the team who has not yet fully embraced the 21st century has resolved to get with it in terms of technology. This means no more plaintive wailing and looking helpless, hoping that a young (or even old – desperate times call for desperate measures) man will heroically step in and solve the problem – no indeedy. However, resolve was tested before the new-year had ended its first week – total loss of emails to mobile ‘phone. After a challenging ‘virtual chat’ with a technical guru, said technophobe was transferred to an actual human, who started talking about reactivation and other such complex tasks. Cue plaintive wailing, looking helpless and screaming for nice young (or old) man…

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LastWord

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The multidisciplinary multidisciplinar y working working party par t y me eting and and development development of of the the guideline guideline The meeting have been been sponsored sponsored by by an an unrestricted unrestricted grant grant from from Rosemont Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ph a r m a c e u t i c a l s have Ltd. Rosemont Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Ltd Ltd was was able able to to recommend recommend experts exper ts for for the th e Ltd. working party par t y group group and and comment comment on on the the scope scope and and title, title, with with final final decisions de cisions working resting with with the the Chair. Chair. Rosemont Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Ltd Ltd had had the the opportunity o p p o r tu n i t y resting to comment comment on on the the technical technical accuracy accuracy of of this this guideline guideline but but the the content content is is to independent of of and and not not influenced influenced by by Rosemont Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Ltd. independent

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Supplement produced in association with

New research has demonstrated that octenilin® Wound Irrigation Solution is effective in preventing the formation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms and can also help remove established S. aureus biofilms. The authors of the study conclude that octenilin ‘inhibits biofilm formation over 72 hours and has the capability to remove an established biofilm.’ Reference on file. octenilin Wound Irrigation Solution contains octenidine hydrochloride, a safe and effective antimicrobial agent that prevents bacterial growth. Biofilms delay wound healing, can be difficult to treat and their management can be clinically challenging. octenilin is available as a 350ml solution with an 8 week shelf life after opening and is listed in the Drug Tariff Part IXA – Appliances, under “irrigation solutions”. 0114 254 3500 www.schulke.co.uk

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The first UK guideline for the management of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) in adults with learning disability (LD) has just been published, summarising the best available evidence for diagnosing and managing dysphagic patients with LD. ‘Guideline for the identification and management of swallowing difficulties in adults with learning disability’ is published in the journal Guidelines and aims to facilitate the identification of atrisk patients and encourage optimal practice for the diagnosis and management of swallowing difficulties in patients with learning disability. The development of the guideline was sponsored by an unrestricted grant from Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Rosemont had the opportunity to comment on the technical accuracy of the guideline but the content has been drafted independently by an expert panel of healthcare professionals. Available free of charge to healthcare professionals by emailing: [email protected] 0113 244 1999 www.rosemontpharma.com

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Disability and dysphagia guideline

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ucozade, the bright orange, sweet fizzy drink used to be marketed as a drink to help you convalesce (‘Lucozade aids recovery’). Then all of a sudden, it was being sold as a drink for sporty types. Now, unfortunately as it happens, a nurse has decided it should have a new application – a substitute for glucose infusions for dialysis patients. This was only one of eleven allegations of incompetence, including not knowing the difference between milligrams and micrograms, and that she checked a patient’s temperature when required to check blood pressure. Bearing in mind this nurse had been qualified for 8 years, what on earth has been

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ere at Last Word Towers, we spend a lot of time subliminally editing notices in public places and screaming at TV presenters who don’t know if they are setting a president or precedent. Imagine the hilarity when on a recent TV programme about ++ size mothers to be, a doctor outlined the risk of being fat whilst pregnant but was concerned that this isn’t often tackled during antenatal care and summarised by saying that obsesity in pregnancy is the elephant in the room….

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hile Nobel prizes generally go to the very clever or the very placid and peaceful, the Ig Nobels are awarded for research that on the face of it, seem completely ridiculous. The most recent award went to a joint Anglo-American endeavour (or should that be endeavor?); an equation to predict the shape

Journal of Community Nursing March/April 2013, volume 27, issue 2

of a ponytail. Yes, girls, a simple bit of maths will tell us whether putting our hair in a ‘laccy band will result in a sleek and sophisticated look, or result in an Essex facelift. In addition, Igs categories also included; medicine – advising doctors who perform colonoscopies how to minimise the chance that their patients will explode (?!!), peace – to the chaps who have converted old Russian ammunition into diamonds (recipe please) and Last Word’s fave, literature, which went to the US Government General Accountability Office for issuing a report about reports about reports that recommends the preparation of a report about the report about reports about reports. And you all thought nursing research was pointless.

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o some of the funnier headlines this week…VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV • Flying dinghy injures man (New Zealand) Dog drives car by himself on live television (New Zealand) Kids Make Nutritious Snacks (but could you eat a whole one?) Patient At Death’s Door – Doctors Pull Him Through Blind Woman Gets New Kidney from Dad She Hasn’t Seen in Years (note the sight theme in this issue of LW) Safety Experts Say School Bus Passengers Should Be Belted

Please note, contributions to ‘Last Word’ are anonymous, and as such, the views and opinions expressed here are those of the author(s), not of the Journal of Community Nursing, its management or editorial staff. 35