Anaesthesia newsfeed

RCoA: Anaesthetic Co-ordinator vacancy

2008-02-10T18:46:00.000Z

The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) commenced work in 1988 and identifies remediable factors in anaesthesia, surgery and medicine.

ANAESTHETIC CO-ORDINATOR VACANCY
1-2 sessions per week (secondment)

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RCoA: NHS Review in England

2008-02-10T18:42:00.000Z

The President of the College recently attended a meeting with Lord Darzi regarding the NHS Review in England.
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AAGBI: Recommendations for Infection Control (2nd Edition) and DNAR Orders – your chance to comment

2008-02-10T18:40:00.000Z

The Council of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland has decided to place some of the final drafts of its well-known ''glossies'' on the web prior to publication. This is to give the membership a chance to comment. Two documents are now at this stage and we invite comments over the next few weeks. They are 'Infection Control in Anaesthesia (2nd Edition)' and 'DNAR Orders in the Perioperative Period'.
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AAGBI: Intensive Care Society - Manpower Census 2008

2008-02-10T18:39:00.000Z

The Manpower Census, of the medical staff working in intensive care units, is important for all in the profession as well as for future planning. This is an exciting venture and all Consultants, Trainees’, NCCGs and Clinical Fellows working in intensive care are invited to take part, both members and non members of the Society. Data will be analysed by the Manpower Committee and results will be anonymised and published in JICS later in the year.
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AAGBI: Physicians’ Assistants (Anaesthesia) is the new title for Anaesthesia Practitioners

2008-02-10T18:37:00.000Z

The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland (AAGBI) and the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), with the full support of the Patient Liaison Group, have decided that the title Anaesthesia Practitioner will no longer be used and that the title Physicians’ Assistant (Anaesthesia), abbreviated to PA(A), will replace it in all current and future RCoA and AAGBI documents, guidelines and publications. This change has been made in the interests of accuracy, clarity and consistency.
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AAGBI: Inaugural Meeting of the Subsection of Critical Care Medicine in Association with the Section of Anaesthesia of the Royal Society of Medicine.

2008-02-10T18:36:00.000Z

On Friday 15 February 2008 the Inaugural Meeting of the Subsection of Critical Care Medicine in Association with the Section of Anaesthesia of the RSM will be held at The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0AE
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RCoA: Tooke Report - Final Recommendations

2008-01-18T17:59:00.000Z

Independent Inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers
The Royal College of Anaesthetists warmly welcomes the publication today of the Final Recommendations of Sir John Tooke’s panel.
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RCoA: Intensive Care Society Manpower Census

2008-01-18T17:56:00.000Z

RCoA: MMC England - letter to trainees

2007-12-30T12:13:00.000Z

On 7 December the Department of Health in London released a letter to all trainees
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RCoA: Results of Election to Council

2007-12-30T12:12:00.001Z

The results of the Royal College of Anaesthetists Election to Council 2008, conducted on Friday 14 December 2007, are now available here.

MHRA: MDA/2007/100 - Volumetric infusion pump

2007-12-30T12:10:00.000Z

There is the possibility of delivering an unintended 1.7 ml bolus
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MHRA: MDA/2007/099 - Blood/solution warming units

2007-12-30T12:09:00.000Z

All Smiths Medical Level 1® H-1200 fast flow fluid warmers
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MHRA: Position on the sale and supply of co-proxamol

2007-12-16T22:04:00.000Z

At the end of January 2005 the MHRA communicated the decision that the painkiller co-proxamol was to be withdrawn from the market.
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MHRA: Europe-wide withdrawal of lumiracoxib

2007-12-16T22:03:00.000Z

Following the suspension of lumiracoxib licences in the UK (19 November 2007), and similar action in some other countries
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MHRA: MDA/2007/097 - Infusion pump software for target controlled infusions

2007-12-16T22:01:00.000Z

There are two accepted Schnider models for the delivery of propofol.
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IASP: Ethics of Opioid Analgesia for Chronic Noncancer Pain

2007-12-16T21:59:00.000Z

To allow a patient to experience unbearable pain or suffering is unethical medical practice.
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IASP: Award for Excellence in Pain Research and Management

2007-12-16T21:57:00.000Z

Nomination Deadline: extended to October 30, 2007 for the 2008 Congress.
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PMETB: PMETB CESR/CEGPR Fees Consultation

2007-12-16T21:55:00.000Z

PMETB has launched a consultation amongst stakeholders, around a proposed fees increase
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RCoA: Supervision of Anaesthesia Practitioners (APs) and Physician’s Assistants -Anaesthesia (PA-A)

2007-12-16T21:53:00.000Z

Further to previous guidance on this issue (Statement on Anaesthesia Practitioners (APs) (October 2007))
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CEMACH: Saving Mothers’ Lives

2007-12-07T08:42:00.000Z

Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer 2003-2005.
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MHRA: Ceftriaxone - incompatibility with calcium-containing

2007-12-07T08:39:00.000Z

Ceftriaxone is contraindicated in newborns who need calcium treatment.
It should not be mixed with, or given at the same time as, calcium-containing solutions
because of a risk of calcium precipitation.
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MHRA: MDA/2007/094 - Robertshaw endobronchial tubes

2007-12-07T07:24:00.000Z

There is a risk of cuff deflation due to a manufacturing design change.
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MHRA: MDA/2007/090 - Anaesthetic Gas Scavenging System (AGSS) receiver, manufactured by Draeger Medical

2007-12-04T16:57:00.000Z

There have been reports of anaesthetic scavenging hoses being misconnected to the blanked-off port of the Draeger AGSS receiver (see appendix).
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MHRA: Intravenous (IV) infusion lines - all brands

2007-12-03T17:48:00.000Z

Risk of back-tracking when more than one IV line is connected through a single access point
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BPS: The assessment of pain in older people

2007-12-01T08:17:00.000Z

Concise guidance to good practice—The assessment of pain in older people published by the British Pain Society
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SASM: Summary report 2007

2007-12-01T08:14:00.001Z

Summary report 2007 (2006 data) published
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MHRA: Aprotinin (Trasylol)

2007-11-29T20:17:00.000Z

Suspension of UK marketing authorisations (licences)
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AAGBI: Potential hazard during prone anaesthesia

2007-11-26T20:27:00.000Z

The AAGBI wish to highlight a potential hazard during prone anaesthesia and endorses the early warning released by the NPSA and RCoA. The three organisations are committed to working together to enhance patient safety.
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SG: NHS Consultant recruitment

2007-11-26T20:24:00.000Z

A consultation on the best way to improve and modernise the recruitment process for consultants working in the NHS was launched today.
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RCoA: Advance notice of changes to the FRCA examinations

2007-11-26T20:21:00.000Z

Council is considering a number of changes to the FRCA Examinations to comply with PMETB’s conditions for the approval of the College’s CCT assessment systems and to introduce current best practice in those areas where assessment has moved on since the last major change to the FRCA Examinations ten years ago.
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RCoA: MMC England e-update - 20 November 2007

2007-11-26T20:19:00.000Z

Welcome to the 20 November 2007 MMC England e-update which provides the latest news on the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) programme.
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RCoA: Re-use of intravenous infusion equipment

2007-11-20T16:47:00.000Z

We have become aware of recent audit data indicating that some anaesthetists are re-using drug infusion syringes and administration sets for subsequent patients.
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AAGBI: The GAT committee has submitted a response to Sir John Tooke's interim report

2007-11-13T07:25:00.000Z

The GAT committee has submitted a response to Sir John Tooke's interim report regarding the inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers.
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AAGBI: Staff and Associate Specialist Grades

2007-11-11T09:58:00.000Z

The draft copy of the glossy “Staff and Associate Specialist Grades” is available.
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BMA: Doctors and nurses issue new guidelines on decision-making in relation to resuscitating patients (issued Friday 26 Oct 2007)

2007-11-04T20:07:00.000Z

The British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Resuscitation Council (UK) have issued new guidance today on decisions about attempting to resuscitate patients when their hearts stop or if they stop breathing.
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AAGBI: GAT committee response to DOH/MMC document

2007-11-04T20:02:00.000Z

The GAT committee has today submitted a response to the recently published DOH/MMC document entitled “Recruitment to foundation and specialty training - Proposals for managing applications from medical graduates from outside the EEA.”(30 October 2007)
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MHRA: response to the termination of the BART Study on the use of aprotinin (Trasylol)

2007-11-04T20:00:00.000Z

Aprotinin (Trasylol) is indicated for the prevention of major blood loss during coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
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SG: NHS Pension Scheme

2007-10-18T15:34:00.000Z

Changes to the NHS Pension Scheme will be implemented from April 2008, it was announced today.
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NPSA: Anaesthesia: Safety improvement through partnership

2007-10-18T15:31:00.000Z

A key programme of work to improve safety in anaesthetic services is announced today by the National Patient Safety Agency at a conference opened by HRH the Princess Royal.
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GMC: GMC announces new registration framework

2007-10-18T08:41:00.000Z

The General Medical Council (GMC) has today announced a new framework for registering doctors, which will come into force on 19 October 2007.
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MMC Medical Graduates from outside the European Economic Area - Document for discussion and feedback

2007-10-17T07:28:00.000Z

The Department of Health has set out proposals for managing applications for National Health Service foundation and specialty training programmes from medical graduates from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). A discussion document has been published seeking views from a wide variety of stakeholders and representatives about the proposals for 2008. Deadline for responses 10.00am on 22 October 2007. Read the document here ...

RCoA: Statement on Anaesthesia Practitioners (APs)

2007-10-17T07:23:00.000Z

Fellows and members of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) will be aware that jointly we have developed a curriculum and training process for the Anaesthesia Practitioner (Physicians’ Assistant Anaesthesia) (AP) grade.
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RCoA: Early review of emergency admissions by senior doctors is essential to ensure correct diagnosis and provide best care

2007-10-11T14:28:00.000Z

Patients should be seen by a senior doctor within 12 hours when admitted as emergencies.
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RCoA: Locally led, staggered recruitment for specialty training in 2008

2007-10-09T21:20:00.000Z

On 8 October the Department of Health in London issued the following press statement concerning specialty recruitment in 2008. The College will keep members informed as more details emerge.
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RCoA: Royal Colleges issue recommendations for the safe organisation of care during labour and birth

2007-10-09T15:33:00.000Z

New recommendations on standards for the safe organisation of care during childbirth have been issued today by the Royal Colleges of Anaesthetists (RCOA), Midwives (RCM), Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), and Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).
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SMC: ziconotide

2007-10-09T06:16:00.000Z

Ziconotide (Prialt®) is not recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of severe, chronic pain in patients who require intrathecal analgesia.
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MMC Inquiry (Tooke Review)

2007-10-08T20:08:00.000Z

Report with draft recommendations for consultation was published today.
Download here ...

NICE: 2007/052 Managing head injury: updated NICE guidelines published

2007-10-03T21:01:00.001Z

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has today (26 September 2007) issued the newly updated guideline on the early care of adults and children with head injuries.
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AAGBI: DNAR Working Party

2007-10-03T20:58:00.000Z

As stated in the October issue of Anaesthesia News, a new AAGBI Working Party on ‘do not attempt resuscitation’ (DNAR) orders
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NPSA: Emergency support in surgical units: Dealing with haemorrhage

2007-10-03T20:53:00.000Z

Following the death of a patient, the National Patient Safety Agency is warning that surgery should not be commissioned or delivered in facilities which lack the systems and equipment to manage emergencies safely.
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RCoA: Brain scans show understanding and memory rely on consciousness

2007-10-03T20:52:00.000Z

Scientists in Cambridge have used brain imaging to show that sedation reduces activity in the brain regions critical for forming memories and understanding the meaning of sentences. more ...

AAGBI: The GAT Committee have today written to Professor Sir John tooke

2007-07-25T14:53:00.000Z

The GAT Committee have today written to Professor Sir John tooke IN RESPONSE TO HIS INVITATION TO CONTRIBUTE to the inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers (MMC).
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NPSA: Safer care for acutely ill patients

2007-07-25T14:50:00.000Z

Today, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) launched a new guideline
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RCoA: Fill rates for posts in Anaesthesia and covering rotas for 1st August 2007

2007-07-25T14:47:00.000Z

In the interests of patient safety and risk management ...
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RCoA: Memorial Service for Sir Gordon Robson

2007-07-18T14:17:00.000Z

A memorial service to celebrate the life and work of Sir Gordon is to be held on Thursday 6 September
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RCoA: Payne-Stafford-Tan Award 2008

2007-07-18T14:16:00.000Z

AN AWARD FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE
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RCoA: Mental Capacity Act: 1-day training events

2007-07-18T14:14:00.000Z

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NPSA: Standardising wristbands improves patient safety

2007-07-03T09:01:00.000Z

Wristbands are used to identify hospital inpatients
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NPSA: Safety in doses: medication safety incidents in the NHS

2007-06-30T20:43:00.000Z

The National Patient Safety Agency has issued the fourth Patient Safety Observatory report
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MHRA: New restrictions on the use of the anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam

2007-06-28T12:52:00.000Z

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has issued new advice on the use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) piroxicam
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SEHD: Junior docs' continuity of employment

2007-06-28T12:48:00.000Z

Junior doctors in Scotland who are without an offer of continued training from August 1 will have their contracts extended to the end of October.
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RCoA: Guidance and Application form for Out of Programme Training

2007-06-28T12:47:00.000Z

The Training Department has updated its guidance on out of programme Training.
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PMETB: Operational Update

2007-06-22T11:54:00.000Z

Download pdf ...

AAGBI: New Publication - Interhospital Transfer

2007-06-22T11:50:00.000Z

The Council of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland has decided to place some of the final drafts
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RCoA: Working Time Directive 2009 and shift working

2007-06-22T11:49:00.000Z

RCoA Council and the Training Committee have approved the following document:
'Working Time Directive 2009 and shift working: ways forward for anaesthetic services, training, doctor and patient safety'
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RCoA: The RCoA's response to the Independent Inquiry into MMC

2007-06-22T11:47:00.000Z

The College's response:
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RCoA: Secretary of State responds to the President

2007-06-22T11:45:00.000Z

Secretary of State's reply to the open letter from the President
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RCoA: FRCA Examinerships 2008-2009

2007-06-14T13:58:00.000Z

The College invites applications for vacancies for examinerships in the academic year 2008-2009.
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PMETB: A Guide to Postgraduate Specialty Training in the UK

2007-06-14T07:25:00.000Z

The four UK Health Departments have published 'A Guide to Postgraduate Specialty Training in the UK' (also known as "Gold Guide").
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MHRA: MDA/2007/053 - IV extension lines

2007-06-14T07:23:00.000Z

IV extension lines: model 6222 range of V Green narrow bore extension lines manufactured by Vygon (UK) Ltd. There is a potential for the female connector of the line to crack when used to deliver propofol (an intravenous anaesthetic agent).
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AAGBI: Extended Deadline for London Deanery Appointments

2007-06-14T07:21:00.000Z

The deadline for application for London Local Fill In posts has been extended to 23:59 on Sunday 17th June 2007.
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RCoA: Examination results: Final FRCA MCQ/SAQ 8 May 2007

2007-06-03T16:27:00.000Z

Download a list of successful candidates from the Final FRCA MCQ/SAQ Examinations held on 8 May 2007.
download pdf ...

RCoA: Invitation to contribute to the Independent Inquiry into MMC

2007-05-29T14:50:00.000Z

To all Fellows, Members and Trainees
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RCoA: MMC APPLICANT URGENT REMINDER

2007-05-29T14:49:00.000Z

Offers are now going out to applicants
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RCoA: Caudwell Xtreme Everest - The Climbing Team, 24 May 2007

2007-05-29T14:48:00.000Z

The following extract and photos are taken from the Jagged Globe
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RCoA: Caudwell Xtreme Everest - The Climbing Team, 23 May 2007

2007-05-29T14:45:00.000Z

The following extract is taken from Caudwell Xtreme Everest website
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NICE: Laparoscopic uterine nerve ablation (LUNA) for chronic pelvic pain (interventional procedures consultation)

2007-05-29T14:44:00.000Z

You may send us your comments
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RCoA: MTAS Statement: Friday, 18 May 2007

2007-05-21T19:18:00.000Z

Letter to all Fellows and Members 18.05.07
Over the last few days you may have seen
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RCoA: Open letter to Secretary of State for Health: Friday, 18 May 2007

2007-05-21T19:15:00.000Z

Dear Secretary of State
I have today written to all
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SIGN: Diagnosis and management of headache in adults. Programme added.

2007-05-21T19:13:00.000Z

Notice of meeting Wednesday 5th September 2007
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SEHD: The Planned Care Improvement Programme: Patient Pathway Management: Approaches to Booking and Access

2007-05-21T19:09:00.000Z

The way that appointments are booked can have a profound effect on the efficiency of hospital processes and ultimately the delivery of safe and reliable services for patients.
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RCoA: A joint Statement from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the British Medical Association

2007-05-14T13:56:00.000Z

The following joint statement from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the British Medial Association was issued late on the afternoon of Friday, 11 May 2007:

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MHRA: MDA/2007/034 - Flexible endoscopes manufactured by Olympus, distributed in the UK by KeyMed Limited

2007-05-14T13:53:00.000Z

Problem: The outer sheath and light guide tube of Olympus flexible endoscopes may be damaged by direct exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, as used in some endoscope storage and drying cabinets.

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RCoA: Organ Donor Task Force

2007-05-08T13:26:00.000Z

Fellows may be interested to know that a Ministerial Task Force on Organ Donation has been established to review current organ donor arrangements in the UK.

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SMC: buprenorphine transdermal patch (BuTrans)

2007-05-08T13:23:00.000Z

ADVICE: following a resubmission buprenorphine transdermal patches (Butrans®) are not recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of severe opioid responsive pain conditions which are not adequately responding to non-opioid analgesics.
Clinical effectiveness has not been demonstrated in the patient population under consideration in the resubmission.

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SIGN: Management of acute upper and lower gastrointestinal blood loss

2007-05-04T16:35:00.000Z

National Meeting Draft Guideline added
pdf here

DoH: Using mobile phones in NHS hospitals

2007-05-03T14:02:00.000Z

This best practice guidance offers a legal framework and an evidence base for NHS trusts to use in compiling its own mobile phone policy.
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RCoA: Hospital Doctor Awards 2007

2007-05-01T15:01:00.000Z

The prestigious Hospital Doctor Awards 2007 will be taking place at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London, on Thursday, 22 November 2007.
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RCoA: Statement on assessing trainees and maintaining patient safety (version 2)

2007-05-01T14:59:00.000Z

From The Royal College of Anaesthetists and Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
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MHRA: MDA/2007/032 - Point of care blood glucose measurement systems: HemoCue

2007-04-27T17:08:00.000Z

Potential for unreliable blood glucose readings when testing samples from pre-term neonates (less than 37 weeks' gestation).
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NICE: 2007/021 NICE guideline to reduce life-threatening blood clots in surgical patients

2007-04-27T17:06:00.000Z

New guidelines launched today by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are set to tackle the continuing problem of potentially life-threatening venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) in patients who have undergone surgery.
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RCoA: Statement on assessing trainees and maintaining patient safety

2007-04-24T13:41:00.000Z

From The Royal College of Anaesthetists and Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.
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RCoA: Primary FRCA MCQ Examination - 19 June 2007

2007-04-24T13:36:00.000Z

On 1 April 2007 new regulations came into effect for the FRCA Examinations.
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SIGN: Control of pain in patients with cancer

2007-04-20T15:24:00.000Z

Draft guideline added.
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DoH: Report of the independent expert working group on the prevention of venous thromboembolism in hospitalised patients

2007-04-20T06:03:00.000Z

The death of patients unnecessarily from venous thromboembolism (VTE) led to the publication of a Health Committee report and the Government’s response, both in 2005.
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NAO: Pay Modernisation: A new contract for NHS consultants in England

2007-04-19T06:52:00.000Z

Under the new NHS consultants’ contract, consultants in England are earning on average 25 per cent more than three years ago but are working the same number of hours or less.
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RCoA: Primary FRCA Examination MCQ Results

2007-04-16T15:32:00.000Z

Primary FRCA Examination MCQ Results
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NPSA: Safer practice with epidural injections and infusions

2007-04-10T15:53:00.000Z

Between 2000 and 2004, three patient deaths were reported following the administration of epidural bupivacaine infusions by the intravenous route. more ...
Issued: 28 Mar 2007

Medical News Today: Researchers Call For National Database Of Epidural Complications

2007-04-09T14:28:00.000Z

Researchers have called for a national database to be set up to identify major complications arising from epidural pain relief after a small number of serious problems were identified during a six-year UK study, according to the April issue of Anaesthesia.
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RCoA: MTAS Review Group Statement

2007-04-09T14:24:00.000Z

On 4 April, following agreement at the Department of Health on a solution to the MTAS problem in England, the following documents have been published:
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