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Bicycle Helmet Laws For Kids Effective But Not Yet The Norm
Studies have shown wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle reduces one"s risk of death by more than 50 percent, yet every three days, a child in the United States is killed while riding a bicycle, and every day at least 100 children are treated in emergency rooms due to bicycle-related head injuries.

More Progress Still To Be Made On Mental Health
Commenting on the final biennial report from the Mental Health Act Commission released by the Care Quality Commission, Mental Health Network director Steve Shrubb said:
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Quality Of GP Consultations Drives High Patient Satisfaction, UK
Being given enough time with a GP and feeling that their problems are taken seriously are the most important factor in patients" satisfaction with their local surgery, according to new data out today. The GP Patient Survey, the biggest healthcare survey of its kind, found that overall satisfaction with surgeries was high at 91%, but there is still room for improvement in accessing GP services, especially getting through on the phone and being able to make appointments more than 48 hours in advance.
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London Hospitals Selected To Target Superbugs

Two London teaching hospitals have been chosen to take the lead in the fight against hospital bugs nationwide. They will try out new disinfection products for a three month period and if successful these may be used in other hospitals across the NHS. Barts and The London NHS Trust and the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust will now trial new technologies designed to combat infections. The Royal Free Hospital will be evaluating devices which claim to kill airborne germs while Barts and The London will be testing a new, more powerful type of cleaning fluid and the method of applying it in ward areas. They are amongst nine hospitals throughout the country selected to take part in the NHS programme to find new products to help reduce the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) which include MRSA. The Royal Free Hospital will be trialling three different types of air cleansing technologies. One uses hydroxyl radicals - often referred to as the "open air factor" - to destroy germs, replicating the way in which nature disinfects the air in open spaces. Another relies on a process known as close-coupled field technology and is currently used in industries such as food manufacturing and aerospace, while the third relies on ultraviolet light and is used in some hospitals overseas. Dr Ed James, who is leading the evaluations at the Royal Free Hospital, said: "The Royal Free has made good progress in reducing the number of infections, by reminding patients, staff and visitors of the need to wash their hands and use alcohol hand gel whenever they are in the hospital. "We know that most infections are carried on peoples" hands, however there may be benefit in using technologies such as these to reduce airborne transmission. This trial will help to estimate the size of the benefit." Barts and The London will be evaluating a cleaning fluid with a special combination of biocides which allows it to kill a wide range of microbes even when used in small quantities. The product covers the entire area of the room. It is a potential alternative to steam cleaning or other existing deep-cleaning techniques and is harmless to humans. Dr Arthur Tucker, Principal Clinical Scientist and Senior Lecturer at Barts and The London, and the research lead for the project, said: "By taking part in this clinical study, we can benefit not only our own patients but potentially those in other hospitals right across the NHS. What is interesting about the products we are looking at is they have been tried in different industry sectors, but never before in healthcare. "Of course we will be looking at the overall effectiveness in killing bugs but healthcare also provides unique challenges for cleaning. For example, how much time will using these products require hospital beds to be out of action for? That"s a concern we will be examining among others." The results of the evaluations will be analysed by infection control experts and products which are judged to be effective, could be adopted in hospitals throughout the country. The evaluations are part of the Smart Solutions for HCAI programme, a national programme to identify new technologies to help combat infections. Last year it invited businesses and inventors to come up with new product ideas. The four products being trialled in London were amongst nine winners from a total of over 250 entries. All the winning products are now undergoing evaluations at different locations. Bryan Griffiths, project director for Smart Solutions for HCAI, said: "Reducing healthcare associated infections is one of the top priorities for the NHS and it has set itself some challenging targets. Whilst the fundamentals of avoiding infection are the same as they have always been, new technologies can play a valuable role. "The evaluation process is of critical importance as we need to be sure the products are effective. We chose these London hospitals to host evaluations due to their dedicated infection control teams which have been able to deploy the products across a variety of specialities. We would like to thank them for helping us to do this." Smart Solutions is part of the Department of Health"s HCAI Technology Innovation Programme. Notes About the products The AD (air disinfection unit) from Inov8 Science Ltd emits hydroxyl radicals - often referred to as the "open air factor" - which destroy pathogens, replicating the way in which the natural environment disinfects the air in open spaces. This process is self-perpetuating as the destruction of one pathogen releases more hydroxyl radicals. For further details see http://www.inov8science.com Medixair from GE Healthcare is a portable ultraviolet air sterilisation device capable of killing airborne microorganisms. Clinically trialled and already in use overseas, Medixair is designed for use in hospitals - to complement the efficacy of hand hygiene and deep cleaning infection control routines. See http://www.medixair.com for further details. AirManager by Quest International (UK) Ltd uses close coupled field technology (CCFT) to destroy particles in air including microbes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It also reduces the airborne odours. The product is currently used in food, aerospace, agriculture and other sectors where bio-security, bio-integrity and emission controls are paramount. See http://www.airmanager.com for further details. Formula 429 and Formula 429 plus by Chemspec Europe is a cleaning product that combines a patented formulation of biocides which allows it to counter a wide range of microbes while reducing the overall quantity used. The product is an alternative to steam or sodium hypochlorite for deep cleaning and is harmless to humans. See http://www.chemspec-europe.com for more details. Smart Solutions for HCAI Smart Solutions for HCAI is a national programme run by TrusTECH®, the North West of England NHS Innovation Hub, on behalf of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) and supported by the NHS National Innovation Centre. See http://www.smartsolutionsforhcai.co.uk for details. Tackling healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) Tackling the problem of HCAIs is high on the government agenda. The NHS Operating Framework for 2008/9 gives improving cleanliness and reducing HCAIs as a top priority for the NHS. NHS organisations will have to reduce the annual number of MRSA bloodstream infections to less than half the number in 2003/4 and by 2011 there will need to be a 30% reduction in C. difficile infections from 2007/8 levels. Barts and The London


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