Share your ideas with like-minded persons involved in the management, development and modernisation of hospital theatre facilities. Post suggestions, questions and information about your experiences and get feedback from other professionals.
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gremilns
POSTED BY: penelope jackson, sister , operating theatres STH sheffield
DATE: Thursday, 6 October 2005: 15:52
I think you have a bug in your system this "mery very good person" has alink that brings up spam I suggest you delete it
Rubbish Training in Theatres!!!
POSTED BY: Anna, Nursing Assistant Theatres, Various hospitals!!!
DATE: Tuesday, 9 August 2005: 13:37
I have been working in the theatres and promised training but much to my annoyance it never happened and now i have given up nursing for good because of that!!!
I know that its not all hospitals fault but if they really are short of nurses then why not let someone with so much passion do it????
Its such a shame because i really enjoy helping in theatres and watching what happens to the patients and also have picked up so much that you would not gain on any ward or other department.
If someone out there is interested in giving me that chance in ODP training or anything in theatres then please post a reply and i will get back.
I am sorry i have not left my email. I guess im a bit embarassed to send it out to people because a few hospitals including this website hospital know me and i dont want to ruin any reputations DO I???
So please get back to me and im not dising any of the hospitals and their work for the record.
Ok look forward to hearing from so people out there that may help me!!!
and if Tom Hogg is reading this then you are a great Anaesthetist so keep up the good work and you never know we may meet again!!!
Cheers Anna
1. POSTED BY: Graham, SODP, Agency
DATE: Tuesday, 4 October 2005: 15:41
Dear Anna,
I understand what you are saying as before completing my ODP training, I was working in theatres as an HCA / Support worker or whatever they call it now and can only give you the following advice:
If you are really keen to undertake the ODP training then i'd suggest that you contact as many regional training centres as possible and be prepared to take a trainee post anywhere as places are very hard to get, and often the fact that you have had experience in theatres doesnt help you. I for example was a HCA for 5 years in theatres and CSSD and it took 2 years of trying to get a place.
You can find a list of regional centres if you look on google and I'd write to all of them and they usually let you know which hospitals are training in the next year and when to contact them.
I would also think carefully about your future prospects as an ODP as at the moment if you become bored of the job as I did in the first few years after qualifying, you will find yourself stuck there and since the NHS is still so Nurse orientated you will find other options closed since you are just a practitioner. Given the choice again, I would have taken nursing training and open up a whole lot of opportunities further up the road.
If you seriously want to train and work in theatres, then it is up to you to make the effort to find the place and people to help you. You will know that theatres are generally too busy to look for people who might like to learn something while they are doing what they are being paid for.
I hope this is of some help.
Regards
Graham
Surgeon assistant
POSTED BY: Yvonne Morgan, RGN PNSA, MercyAscot New Zealand
DATE: Thursday, 30 June 2005: 4:27
I was trained at WSH BSE. I have worked in London, and now have been employed in New Zealand for the last 7 years. I have undertaken a Perioperative Nurse Surgeon Assistant course here, and am looking at coming home to the UK. What employment opportunities are there in East Anglia. I predominantly assist at laparoscopic, general, vascular and gynaecology.
Manual Handling in Theatres
POSTED BY: peter Maleczek, Back Care Adviser, James Paget healthcare trust
DATE: Monday, 13 June 2005: 18:34
Am I alone in believing that there is still too much hardous manual handling undertaken within theatres,particularly in patient transfers? Despite the use of lateral transfer aids there are still extremely high levels of physical strain in most patient transfer techniques,especially in view of the increasing size of many patients.Although we use hoists far more in general nursing areas,including intensive care,nowadays,there is still little movement to installing hoist tracking in the Theatre setting.It stikes me that if we can resolve the issues relating to location and Infection control,this is an area that lends itself to the mechanical lifting of the dependant patient.Ant thoughts anyone?
1. POSTED BY: Andy S
DATE: Monday, 20 June 2005: 9:34
I agree! We do use aids such as Patslides, but do these actually help? Staff still have to bend to reach over the bed to reach the patient. Regarding patient hoists, I seem to recall a recent case where it was found that these should not be used if it compromised patient dignity.
2. POSTED BY: Peter Maleczek
DATE: Wednesday, 22 June 2005: 8:46
As far as any handling technique being used,it should address the safety of both patients and handlers,reducing the level of risk to the lowest level reasonably practicable,and also meeting the patients needs in respect of Comfort,Dignity,Anxiety and avoidance of Pain or Harm.Can we always say that current methods always do this?
We recently undertook some force tests on our patslide transfers and unless low friction glide sheets are used they generally fall into a high risk catagory.How many theatres always use slide sheets for their transfers?
I feel that we are tweaking with and trying to improve on what will always be a potentially hazardous technique rather than replacing it with mechanisation.
3. POSTED BY: Lyndall Hannaford, Physiotherapist, Self employed
DATE: Friday, 15 July 2005: 1:33
Is there anyone who knows of a manual handling device that assists a patient to be moved from supine on a trolley to prone over a "sydney harbour bridge" device (for back surgery) and then can allow for easy movement of the patient once on the device if they aren't quite in the right place. .. and of course they need to be moved back onto the trolley after the surgery.
and any ideas for supporting a leg that is being prepped before total hip replacement surgery (other than the human kind)
Lyndall Hannaford
4. POSTED BY: Susanna Green, Manual handling advisor/trainer, West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds
DATE: Thursday, 11 August 2005: 14:7
Limb lifting in theatre has been a real problem here. I approached a company that is in the business of designing manual handling equipment. We are currently working on a limb lifter, predominanlty leg prepping prior to hip replacement. First prototype needed minor changes, expecting the second trial in september.
we had some exceptionally good comments from our senior ODA's about the prototype....watch this space
5. POSTED BY: marlene murty, senior M&H adviser, NHS Ayrshire & Arran
DATE: Friday, 23 September 2005: 9:33
interested in hearing about limb hoist, would be keen to pilot. Must be mobile as we've had difficulty with ones that attach to the theatre table. Dignity wasn't an issue in the court case, breach of human rights was "degrading & inhumane treatment", the definition of this is very narrow i.e. anything that amounts to torture. A dependent female was left in a cold bath for hours because social work staff didn't have a hoist to move her. All other rights in human rights act are "qualified" and statute law (e.g. others Health & safety) takes precedence.
6. POSTED BY: Michael Parris, Manual Handling Advisor, Centaur Training
DATE: Thursday, 13 October 2005: 15:28
I am currently in the process of patenting a mechanical device specifically for lateral transfers, and lateral repositioning. (Moving a patient up to the top of a bed)
This device will be operable by one member of staff, and involves no force applied.
I would be interested in hearing from people in a position to run a clinical trial on this equipment, at its'prototype stage.
Particularly of interest are theater staff, and staff working in the community, although anyone who is faced with hazardous horozontal handling situations is more than welcome to get in touch.
[email protected]
Campaign for local paediatric dialysis in East Anglia
POSTED BY: Roger Rothery
DATE: Thursday, 7 April 2005: 18:41
Ipswich Hospital Trust last year spent £600,000 on building a renal unit extension. A similar renal unit costing £449,000 exists at West Suffolk Hospital. Both units exclude children from this life saving treatment? The whole rationale behind these renal units are shorter patients traveling times for patients living in East Anglia.
We are seeking the establishment of a paediatric (children's) haemodialysis unit in central East Anglia. The current practice for paediatric patients in need of haemodialysis is inhumane. All paediatric haemodialysis patients, parents and carers in the East Anglia region are forced to make the grueling round trip three times a week to Great Ormond street Hospital in London for treatment. In our case this is 198-miles, if you lived in North Norfolk it could be as much as 300-miles.
Young children undergoing dialysis have a tendency to be very ill on these long journeys with frequent vomiting, headaches, dizziness and on occasion are as a result admitted to Great Ormond Street with all the problems this causes families and carers because of the distance from home. Every journey would mean the carer taking a precautionary overnight bag for themselves and the child. If you were forced to use public transport - which appears to be the way the hospital is moving to save money - you would have heavy luggage with you, a child vomiting and on occasion a highly visible pharmacy bag full of dangerous drugs. In Central London, as a woman, this situation would make you feel very vulnerable and no carer wants to be put in this highly dangerous situation.
Please visit:
www.kidsdialysis.co.uk/
walking patients to theatre
POSTED BY: rebecca bateson, theatre and day case unit nurse, d grade, bridlington and district hospital ,east yorks
DATE: Sunday, 20 March 2005: 14:32
In our hospital we have the ideal close location of theatre, day unit and the surgical ward to be walking patients to theatre for both general and local anaesthetic, (patient permitting) but don't !! I realise we are not the only hospital to wheel or trolley patients, but surely we could move on and bring some of the dinasours I work with up to date! If anyone out there has any info regarding this or policies that they have set up please, please could you let me know.
1. POSTED BY: Robert Ledsam, senior staff nurse, cardiff & Vale NHS trust
DATE: Monday, 6 June 2005: 1:56
I currently work in a short stay surgical ward where we have just started walking patients to theatre. However, i must admit i think this could pose a possible minefield for both the staff concerned and the trust. The diecision was taken at sister level. i then pointed out the possible pitfalls such as increased anxiety, hyperventilation through fear not to mention the patient having an accident on there way to the theatre. it has since been agreed to seek consent from the patient and to document this in their nursing records. A chair is then offered if the patient feels unable to walk and should it be decided a trolley is the best option then this would be advised to theatre when they ring to say they are ready for the patient. i'm not sure this is going to work however, i fully understand that for some patients it could also remove the anxiety of the transfer to theatre and give them some degree of control at least until they are in the theatre.
2. POSTED BY: peter Maleczek, Back Care Adviser, James Paget healthcare trust
DATE: Monday, 13 June 2005: 18:18
I have been an advacate of this for several years for many reasons not least being why physically move someone if they can possibly move themselves!There isn't a lot of supporting evidence out there but you may find this reference useful; Controlled Trial of the Subjective Patient benefits of Accompanied walking to the Operating Theatre-L A Turbull et al-International journal of Clinical practice Vol 52 (March1998) 81-83.
We certainly encourage more patient involvement in their transfer where appropriate.
3. POSTED BY: David Wilson-Nunn, consultant anaesthetist, Norwich
DATE: Thursday, 23 June 2005: 21:39
Is the goal of patients walking to theatre so that we cut down on the effort of moving patients on beds? If so, what happens at the end of the operation - presumably they have to be transferred to a bed or trolley. Where does this come from - the ward? If so, is there really much difference pushing a trolley with a patient on it than one without a patient on it? I would love to reduce the amount of manual handling that we do, but I don't understand how this would help. Please enlighten me - I could suggest this method in one part of my Trust if it really makes a difference.
4. POSTED BY: Jacqui Cretney, Trainee ODP, Royal Gwent Hospital
DATE: Saturday, 22 October 2005: 16:16
Hi, I trained and worked in South Africa in the operating theatres in the private sector. One of the anaesthetists that I used to work with insisted on all patients walking to theatre ( if they were able to of course). Initially I was quite appalled by this, however, I soon realised that it was a brilliant idea. After all they weren't ill and I also found that it made them a lot more relaxed and less anxious. They maintained their dignity and a lot them found it quite amusing which relieved their stress. The anaesthetist always accompanied each patient to theatre and he would converse with them and more often than not they would come into the department laughing. I think this should be implemented in all hospitals worldwide as its good for patient morale. It makes the patient feel that they are treated as a "whole" person and not a patient. To me this is very important.
We should all try and get this up and running!! Come on, all in favor of this or not, submit your comments to this web page.
5. POSTED BY: Pauline Kennedy, Registered Nurse, Adelaide Australia
DATE: Sunday, 23 October 2005: 13:35
I have recently moved from Scotland to Australia, where all fit daystay patients walk into theatre with thier pillow under arm and blanket over shoulders. It is accepted practice that works well. In Scotland in a contained day surgery unit all the patients have walked into theatre having been informed what to expect beforehand which also worked well. It reduced transfers as the patients had their surgery on the day surgery operating trolley which the patient stayed on through recovery.
Smoking is very dangerous to our health!
POSTED BY: roselyn, student, ION
DATE: Wednesday, 9 March 2005: 18:46
Let's be clear. We know that smoking is a dangerous and self-destructive habit. Various poisons contained within tobacco smoke cause or contribute to cancer of the mouth and lungs, heart problems, emphysema, gum disease and a variety of other physical diseases. Life Insurance companies recognize the disease causing properties of tobacco smoke by charging higher rates to customers who smoke. Smoking stains teeth, and makes people smell bad. It is an expensive habit as well.
Healthy lifestyles play a big part in reducing your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Better lifestyle habits can help you to reduce your risk for heart attack. You have to learn what you can do to help prevent heart disease and stroke. If you have more than one risk factor for heart disease or stroke, you could and should make lifestyle choices that can reduce your risk.
Talking about Smoking
Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the United States . That’s important! Want evidence of the dangers of smoking?
Consider these statistics:
A smoker’s risk of heart attack is more than twice that of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is the biggest risk factor for sudden cardiac death -- smokers are looking at two to four times the risk of nonsmokers. Studies have shown that cigarette smoking is also an important risk factor for stroke. The evidence also indicates that chronic exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke, passive smoking) may increase the risk of heart disease.
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Mobile phones / bleeps in theatre
POSTED BY: nadine lloyd, 2nd year odp student, Dewsbury District Hospital
DATE: Sunday, 6 February 2005: 16:39
For my research proposal I would be interested if these types of equipment do interfere with machinery (? the anaesthetic machines) any thoughts or pointers would be much appreciated.
2. POSTED BY: Laura, Nursing Assistant
DATE: Thursday, 28 April 2005: 9:13
Hi i want to say i really dont agree that mobile phones pose any risks to the theatre equipment.
When working in private hospitals all the surgeons have their mobiles on and take calls whilst working.
I feel that the hospitals are really being too funny about mobiles and that we should be aloud them on at least silent.
Who knows what important calls maybe missed whilst being switched off?
We i hope this helps.
3. POSTED BY: George
DATE: Thursday, 9 June 2005: 11:44
All electronic equipment used in theatres should be 'diathermy proof'.
Diathermy output radio frequency power is several orders of magnitude greater than the output from a mobile phone handset transmission (high hundreds of Watts rather than a couple of Watts from a phone).
Diathermy operates at a lower frequency than mobile phones and although electronic equipment is affected by different frequencies to a greater or less extent the great difference in power means that mobile phones should be safe to use in theatres.
Anecdotal findings supports this.
If anything, it is more likely that the phone would be damaged by the diathermy or at least the conversation could be interrupted.
However, mobile phones should not be used close to where non-diathermy proof electronic medical monitors and life support devices are used.
4. POSTED BY: lynn pitt, registered theatre nurse, lemesos medical centre cyprus
DATE: Wednesday, 24 August 2005: 9:50
As in the private sector in uk all surgeons and anaesthetists carry their mobile phones with them into theatre and the equipment used in theatres is not affected in any way, this even happens in the state hospitals as well
Pain management
POSTED BY: Chris Trimm
DATE: Friday, 4 February 2005: 13:3
Hi, pain management is an area that seems to vary greatly from dept. to dept. in my experience.
If you have an interest in pain management why not visit:
www.pain-talk.co.uk
The national discussion forum and community for UK Nurses, Doctors, and Allied Professionals with an interest in acute, chronic, or palliative Pain Management.
1. POSTED BY: F. Clark, Deputy Sister, Recovery Unit
DATE: Monday, 7 February 2005: 13:16
This site is great, I wouldn't have got through my pain course without the help and information I got from their discussion forum.
Latex in theatres
POSTED BY: Kim Robertson, Senior theatre practioner (E grade staff nurse), Orthopaedic and trauma theatres - WSH
DATE: Wednesday, 26 January 2005: 14:48
I'm researching latex in theatres, with the intention of developing a resource area for collegues and students regarding latex. From this research Standards will be made and eventually a new Policy developed.
The reason this is being done is because recently a collegue asked everyone in theatre to remove their elasticated hats and use non-elasticated ones because the patient was allergic to latex, other people thought this act as being overly cautious to say the least.
Practice regarding latex needs to standardised, and in order for me to do this I would like your help. What provisions do other hospitals have for patients in theatre? Do you have an up-to-date policy regarding this subject? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Kim
1. POSTED BY: Dermott Reilly, European Radio Frequency Identification Consultant, Byford Computer Services Ltd
DATE: Wednesday, 2 February 2005: 13:12
What can a simple Radio Tag do for your Hospital?
• Traceability / Compliance / Patient Safety
• Stock visibility
• Asset security
• Process efficiency
• Profitability / cut costs / utilize assets
• Value-added services / Client care
• League table advantage
• Success
With an antenna the size of a large postage stamp and a smart chip not much bigger than a grain of pepper a radio tag can deliver compelling value to your hospital operation.
More than a barcode, a radio tag can talk back and communicate by itself!
Thus, processes like QC, data entry, inventory count are automated; IV Pumps tracked, wheelchairs monitored, temperature recorded, emergency teams located, patient safety & staff security increased, actions deployed by sensors, eradicating the need for manual control or intervention. The possibilities are endless, and we are excited by the results of an ongoing two-year project with one of the biggest retail / manufacturing supply chains in Britain.
Large hospitals need to identify equipment fast. Nursing staff and maintenance teams’ loose valuable time searching for assets, perhaps lost or stolen. Imagine any lost item identifying itself! That’s the magic of radio tags. Not only is productivity increased, but radio tags can confirm asset usage, enabling hospital buyers and administrators to better utilise staff and equipment, thus insuring clockwork efficiency, safety and asset security.
Like to know more? Simply email Dermott Reilly [email protected] for more info or a get together.
Dermott
Dermott Reilly
European RFID Consultant
Byford Computer Services Limited
Pembroke House
Carrington Business Park
Carrington, Manchester
M31 4TH
UK
[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0) 161 777 2700
Tel: +33 (0) 296 672 950 / +33 (0) 670 959699
www.byford.com
Ecademy profile here:
www.ecademy.com/account.php?op=view&id=40621
2. POSTED BY: Jenna Brooks, allergyed, allergyed
DATE: Thursday, 7 April 2005: 20:47
Articles and resources about allergy
3. POSTED BY: SINCERIA GREEN, THEATRE STAFF NURSE E GRADE (MAIN THEATRE), WYCOMBE GENERAL HOSPITAL
DATE: Friday, 21 October 2005: 17:51
I work in the Main Theatre at Wycombe General, I am responsible for keeping the folder and products updated. There need to be more responsibility taken by manufacturers to ensure there products are labelled latex free or not. I am concerned on whether atopic patients who show no signs of latex sensitisation but are however allergic to lots of other things should be treated as latex allergic?
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