Saturday 29 June 2013

Prosthetics service for veterans launched


A NATIONAL prosthetics service has been launched for veteran military amputees.

The service will provide amputees with advanced prosthetics designed to function as much like a natural limb as possible. It will also act as a dedicated point of access to services including limb fitting and rehabilitation.

It is estimated there are about 66 military amputees in Scotland, and ministers yesterday met one of them, Steven Richardson from East Lothian.

He lost both legs and some fingers on both hands after he stood on an explosive device during a tour in the Nad-e-Ali district of Afghanistan in 2010.

Health secretary Alex Neil said: "It is only right our veterans, who have risked their lives for this country, receive world-class services through our NHS.

"Scotland is already leading the way in prosthetic care and this new specialist service is a fantastic example of the NHS using innovative technologies to deliver 21st-century healthcare."

The service has been launched by the Scottish Government following recommendations in a report by Dr Andrew Murrison on NHS prosthetics for veterans, particularly those from recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The UK government asked Dr Murrison, a Tory MP, to review prosthetic services after concerns were raised by some charities the NHS may not provide services to the same standard as the Defence Medical Service provided by the Ministry of Defence.

Ian Waller, of the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association, said: "We are encouraged by the clear message this sends to our members in Scotland; that their needs have been recognised, considered and are being addressed."


Source: http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/prosthetics-service-for-veterans-launched-1-2976943


Tuesday 25 June 2013

Cost Benefit Analysis of Knee Prostheses

A study is being conducted at Imperial College Business School. The purpose of this study is to analyse the costs and benefits of different types of leg prostheses used by clients in the UK.


The survey is directed to patients who have undergone UNILATERAL ABOVE-KNEE AMPUTATION (only in one leg).


The RESULTS of this study will help provide evidence-based research to support the campaign for more funding to be made available for microprocessor knees in the UK.


The survey can be completed in 10-15 minutes and can be found on the following link https://iclbusiness.eu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_7QdSoPKMkQkHqhD


Your response will be confidential. You will be assigned a participant number and only these numbers will appear in subsequent analyses of the data.


If you do not wish to answer a particular question please leave it blank and you can withdraw from the study at anytime.


By completing the survey, you acknowledge that you have read this information and agree to participate in this research.


Monday 24 June 2013

An Introduction to Podiatric Medicine for Healthcare Professionals Saturday 21st September 2013

For further information on the 'An Introduction to Podiatric Medicine for Healthcare Professionals' BAPO Short Course please follow the link below:

Further Information

Please note that the cancellation date of this course is 24th August 2013.  If you wish to book a place on the BAPO short course then please do so at your earliest convenience.

Sunday 23 June 2013

NHS e-Referral Service vision - making paperless referrals a reality

What might an NHS e-Referral Service look like in the future?

The needs of patients and professionals will be foremost in designing the new service, which will include support for enhanced functionality and usability for delivering some or all of the following:

Improved integration and usability
Referral management support
Any to any referrals
Linked appointments
Follow-up appointments
Self referrals
Enhanced reporting capability
Electronic communications



Tuesday 18 June 2013

Effect of rocker shoe design features on forefoot plantar pressures in people with and without diabetes

J.D. Chapman, S. Preece, B. Braunstein, A. Höhne, C.J. Nester, P. Brueggemann, S. Hutchins

Abstract 
Background

There is no consensus on the precise rocker shoe outsole design that will optimally reduce plantar pressure in people with diabetes. This study aimed to understand how peak plantar pressure is influenced by systematically varying three design features which characterise a curved rocker shoe: apex angle, apex position and rocker angle.

Methods

A total of 12 different rocker shoe designs, spanning a range of each of the three design features, were tested in 24 people with diabetes and 24 healthy participants. Each subject also wore a flexible control shoe. Peak plantar pressure, in four anatomical regions, was recorded for each of the 13 shoes during walking at a controlled speed.

Findings

There were a number of significant main effects for each of the three design features, however, the precise effect of each feature varied between the different regions. The results demonstrated maximum pressure reduction in the 2nd–4th metatarsal regions (39%) but that lower rocker angles (<20°) and anterior apex positions (>60% shoe length) should be avoided for this region. The effect of apex angle was most pronounced in the 1st metatarsophalangeal region with a clear decrease in pressure as the apex angle was increased to 100°.

Interpretation

We suggest that an outsole design with a 95° apex angle, apex position at 60% of shoe length and 20° rocker angle may achieve an optimal balance for offloading different regions of the forefoot. However, future studies incorporating additional design feature combinations, on high risk patients, are required to make definitive recommendations.

http://www.clinbiomech.com/article/S0268-0033(13)00114-9/abstract

Tuesday 11 June 2013

HCPC launches consultation on guidance for professional indemnity cover and registration


News release 

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has today launched an eight week consultation to seek the views of stakeholders on guidance for registrants in relation to professional indemnity cover and registration. 


The Government are proposing that all health professionals must hold professional indemnity cover as a condition of registration. This is subject to parliamentary approval and will apply to all of the professions regulated by the HCPC with the exception of social workers in England*. This is because these 15 professions are considered to be 'healthcare professions' under the terms of the European Directive 2011/24/EU on cross-border healthcare. 

We anticipate that the majority of our registrants will already be able to meet these requirements as they will be indemnified either through their employer, a professional body, directly with an insurer or a combination of these. However, it is important that registrants ensure that they have cover in place that is appropriate for their practice. 

Subject to the legislative timetable, cover must be in place by Friday 25 October 2013. From 1 April 2014 new applicants to the Register and those renewing their registration will be required to complete a professional declaration. Failure to hold appropriate cover will mean an individual will not have their registration renewed or, in the case of new applicants, will not be registered by us.

Louise Hart, Director of Council and Committee Services commented;

"It is important that professionals are aware of their responsibilities to have appropriate indemnity cover and to take steps to ensure they meet this new requirement of registration.

"The draft guidance we have produced outlines what professionals need to know about their responsibilities and provides detailed information about professional indemnity, how they can meet this requirement and how the HCPC will check that cover is in place.

"We are now seeking views on this draft guidance and would welcome feedback from professionals on our Register as well as employers and other stakeholders who may be affected by this new requirement."

The consultation will run from 10 June 2013 until 2 August 2013 and can be found on the following link https://www.research.net/s/consultationonguidanceforPIIrequirement

Gene Associated With Adolescent-Onset Scoliosis Identified

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences in Japan have identified a gene associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This is the first time that any gene or specific cause has been linked to this form of scoliosis which affects adolescents. Scoliosis is a skeletal disease that causes the spine to become deformed: the spine of an individual suffering from scoliosis may look like the shape of an "S" or a "C" when viewed on an X-ray. AIS, as the name suggests, is a form of scoliosis that has its onset in adolescence, usually during the puberty growth period. Although the condition is called idiopathic because its cause is unknown, scientists have suspected that genetics may play a part in causing AIS. In their study, published in Nature Genetics, the team from RIKEN sought to uncover genetic risk factors for AIS by studying the genomes over 1,800 patients who suffer from AIS and almost 26,000 unaffected individuals in the Japanese population.

From their genome-wide analysis, the researchers identified variants of a gene, GPR126, that were
significantly associated with a higher risk for developing AIS. The team subsequently confirmed
that GPR126 is also linked to AIS susceptibility in the Han Chinese and Caucasian populations.
Experiments further showed that the GPR126 gene product, which is known to play a role in human
height and trunk length, promotes growth and bone tissue formation in spine development. These findings suggest that genetic alterations in GPR126 may affect both AIS susceptibility and height by causing abnormal spinal development and growth. 


Friday 7 June 2013

The Department of Health has announced a £4m fund to improve the way diseases are diagnosed.

This money will fund research that looks at the way a number of different diseases are diagnosed, so patients can access the best available treatments more quickly.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) will share the funding across four NHS organisations in London, Leeds, Newcastle and Oxford. These places will become national centres of expertise called NIHR diagnostic evidence co-operatives.

These centres will promote research into medical tests used to diagnose things like cancer, liver and respiratory diseases, so patients across the NHS can benefit from advances in technology. More .....

Thursday 6 June 2013

Specialised health services clinical reference groups: Patient and carer member recruitment – second wave

Specialised health services clinical reference groups: Patient and carer member recruitment – second wave

NHS England has opened the second wave of recruitment for patient and carer members of its Clinical Reference Groups for 2013/14. For a full list of CRGs who are still recruiting members please follow the link below.

CRGs are responsible for providing NHS England with clinical advice regarding specialised services, and for promoting equity of access to high quality services for all patients, regardless of where they live. CRGs are also at the forefront of the drive to spearhead innovation, working with clinical leaders, patients and suppliers to identify and promote best practice; scanning the horizon for new treatment approaches; and taking action to improve patient experience and outcomes in the NHS.

This is an exciting time to join a CRG, as they take their place within the new commissioning structures of the NHS. The accompanying Guide to CRGs and Information Pack for Patients and Carers will provide you with more, detailed information about their work; where they sit within NHS England, and what it means to be a patient and carer member of a CRG. If you are interested in applying to be a patient or carer member, you will also find an application form which you can complete online. The closing date for applications for membership is midnight 13 June 2013.

To find out more about becoming a patient or carer member of one of these groups, where you will find the list of CRGs we are still recruiting to,  a Guide to CRGs, an Information Pack and application form.

This opportunity is open to people 18 years and over. We are committed to ensuring that the work of CRGs is informed by the voice of children and young people; however, we are also aware that there are extra support needs for this group and that membership of the CRGs may not be the most appropriate approach to engaging with this section of the population.

They are recruiting for the following CRG's

INTERNAL MEDICINE

A5 Morbid Obesity Surgery A13 Specialised Rheumatology




TRAUMA




D10 Specialised Orthopaedic ServicesD14 Complex Spinal Surgery
D15  Major Trauma
WOMEN AND CHILDREN




E4 Paediatric Cancer ServicesE12 Fetal Medicine
E7 Paediatric Intensive CareE13  Multi System Disorder