IFPN is delighted to announce a sponsorship arrangement between ourselves and Buffalo Filter. The Buffalo Filter company started in 1991 as a small privately owned company manufacturing a range of filters and smoke evacuation systems, it has since developed into a large company that distributes its products throughout the USA and to 52 countries worldwide. IFPN is impressed with the efforts of Buffalo Filter in relation to patient and staff safety and their commitment to ongoing professional development of perioperative practitioners. Through the sponsorship arrangement Buffalo Filter has secured naming rights to the Surgical Plume guideline, and have committed to providing regular information for our web site. IFPN is looking forward to a continued excellent professional relationship with Buffalo Filter.

James Harrison - President

The WHO web site contains some valuable resources on patient safety including; safe surgery, hand hygiene and hospital acquired infections. Click HERE for a link to this resource

Recently a group of committed perioperative practitioners from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) met in Dubai, with a view to establishing a national perioperative nurses association. James Harrison - President of IFPN facilitated this meeting.

WHO, ministers of health ,senior officials, academics and patients' groups were brought  together from all corners of the globe to advance the patient safety goal of "First do no harm" (attributed to Hippocrates circa 460-370 BC)  and reduce the adverse health and social consequences of health care.

Whilst developed countries such as the UK already have patient safety plans and legislation, political leaders recognised that they could to more to support  development of research, delivery capabilities and knowledge to tackle the full range of patient safety issues on a worldwide scale. The  Department of Health (UK) and the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America –  have in particular  been key supporters and committed significant  resources  to the Alliance (UK CMO Sir Liam Donaldson  for instance Chairs  the alliance and Lord Prof Darzi is engaged in many of the project streams).

The first global challenge was  Clean Care is Safer Care and the second challenge has been Safe Surgery Saves Lives, Kate Woodhead has sat on the Team Working Group, her  invitation, having been extended given her work in Africa and experience of FOAN. It was clear from the event and the observations shared by Lydia ( delegate rep from Kenya ( more privileged country than many) that Africa’s issues are of concern .
WHO is at the point that it now recognises that surgery is occurring  at a volume exceeding childbirth worldwide,  so much so,  for the first time surgery is now being recognised as a  major public health issue, because it is more dangerous and has a much higher mortality rate. The incidence of traumatic injuries, cancers, and other surgical conditions is rising as a proportion of the total global burden of disease, and surgical intervention is expected to increase further around the world.

 In launching the campaign it was envisaged that by defining a core set of minimum standards that could be applied universally across borders and settings, we might  create an environment of safety that will help improve both access to and care of surgical patients.

 
Working groups comprised of experts and clinicians with  experience in a wide range of  health care settings have in the past year  been reviewing the evidence for improving safety focussing on  Surgical Site Infection Prevention, Safe Anaesthesia, Safe Surgical Teams, and Measurement of Surgical Care and Quality Assurance Mechanisms.

further information can be obtained by clicking here