IN BRIEF A film to raise awareness of hepatitis C among primary healthcare professionals has been launched by the Royal College of GPs, the Hepatitis C Trust and HCV Action. Hepatitis C affects around 214,000 people in the UK and can lead to liver disease and cancer. The film aims to boost healthcare professionals’ confidence in diagnosing and supporting patients, and to inform them of the latest effective treatments in primary care. Go to tinyurl.com/mv4syg8 Commissioners and service providers could identify older people at risk of experiencing loneliness by targeting those whose circumstances could cause it, according to a report. In the report, the Campaign to End Loneliness and the University of Kent call for the creation of ‘loneliness maps’ by observing circumstances such as living alone. Visit tinyurl.com/LonelinessReport An educational video that explores the links between taste and patients’ compliance when taking oral nutritional supplements is available online. The ‘Power of Taste’ e-learning resource has been developed by healthcare company Abbott Nutrition and endorsed for continuing professional development by the British Dietetic Association. Go to tinyurl.com/AbbottTasteVideo The Law Society has published guidance on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards for people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions about their care. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, professionals in England and Wales must seek authorisation if they want to restrict someone’s freedom to care for them safely. Law Society president Andrew Caplan said: ‘It is essential that any restrictions on their day to day lives are demonstrably proportionate and in their best interests.’ Visit tinyurl.com/LawSocDoLS Bupa UK has launched a charitable foundation that will fund projects in areas including heart health, dementia and type 2 diabetes. The theme of the first round will be announced next month, when applications will open. The grants will total up to £1 million. The charity Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC) has launched a national campaign to encourage children aged two to four, their parents and professionals to talk about constipation. The Let’s Talk About Poo page on its website has information on symptoms and treatment. Go to tinyurl.com/ptwq2ry Stress caused by serious life events such as bereavement may increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes in childhood, say researchers. A Swedish study published in Diabetologia found a serious event in the first 14 years of life increased the risk by three times. But Diabetes UK research communications manager Richard Elliott said: ‘While stress might coincide with or even contribute to diabetes diagnosis, it is highly unlikely that such events would be the only cause. A history of type 1 diabetes in your family is a much more important risk factor.’

A SAFETY ALERT FOR DEVICE CONNECTORS A patient safety alert to raise awareness of new enteral feeding tubes and connectors that will be introduced in the NHS from September has been issued by NHS England. The alert has been published to manage any risks that may arise during the transition period to using the new medical device connectors. The International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) has developed international standard ISO 80369 for small bore connectors for various medical devices. The changeover to the new connectors is to prevent the wrong types of medical devices being connected together and to improve patient safety. Other devices affected by the ISO are: breathing systems and driving gases, limb cuff inflation devices, neuraxial devices and intravascular/hypodermic applications. All NHS providers that use medical devices affected by the change are asked to ensure that staff are aware and that action plans are being developed to minimise risks during transition. NHS England director of patient safety Mike Durkin said: ‘There are lots of patients, in hospitals and also in the community, who receive their nutrition and medication via a tube.’

Pre-loading insulin syringe guidance updated by RCN Updated guidance for nurses on pre-loading insulin syringes for use at home has been published by the RCN. The practice should be a last resort, according to the college, and nurses must be aware of the legal position around such treatment and their liability. The guidance says the rising numbers of people with type 2 diabetes, combined with an ageing population, mean the number of people unable to use a pen device is growing. An organisation-wide policy should be in place to ensure patient safety and legal protection. RCN general secretary Peter Carter said: ‘The NHS’s ability to manage diabetes will be crucial over the coming years, and specialist staff and those working in the community will be in a key position to refine best practice.’ The college said that its previous guidance on the subject was ‘one of the most used’. The insulin syringes guidance is at tinyurl.com/RCNsyringeguidance

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A safety alert for device connectors.

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