Entries by Sharon Evans

Triple Packaging of Formalin-Fixed Biological Specimens

July 9, 2026 in , , , /by

Triple packaging of Formalin-fixed biological specimens has become the accepted standard for transportation within hospitals and to external locations. Every day, biological specimens are transferred to hospital laboratories in pathology departments from clinical areas such as operating theatres, endoscopy departments and mortuaries. These include everything from surgical excisions, tissue biopsies, cytology preparations and large anatomical […]

What Changes Are Planned for the NHS?

June 15, 2026 in /by

When it comes to what changes are planned for the NHS, the UK government is pursuing one of the biggest restructurings of the National Health Service in decades. Through its new 10-Year Health Plan for England, ministers say they want to modernise the NHS, reduce waiting lists, improve access to local care, and shift the […]

Capturing Fluid Spills in Hospital Operating Theatres

May 14, 2026 in , , , /by

Fluid spills in hospital operating theatres—such as blood, saline, irrigation fluids, and other bodily fluids—are both common and potentially hazardous. Effective capture and management of these fluids are essential for patient safety, staff protection, infection control, and operational efficiency. Sources and Risks of Fluid Spills Fluid spills in operating theatres arise from multiple sources, including […]

Cytotoxic Drug Spills – the Risks in Hospitals

February 5, 2026 in , /by

Cytotoxic drug spills pose significant risks to healthcare workers, patients, and the hospital environment. Understanding these risks—and how to prevent and manage them—is critical to maintaining a safe healthcare setting. What Are Cytotoxic Drugs? Cytotoxic drugs, also known as antineoplastic or chemotherapy agents, are essential in the treatment of cancer and other serious conditions. They […]

Operating Theatre Events in 2026

December 8, 2025 in , /by

Looking for some operating theatre events offering useful insights into operating theatre management and efficiency in 2026? Don’t miss these five events for some great learning and networking experiences. The Operating Theatres Conference 2026 5th February 2026 | CorpAcq Stadium, Manchester This 11th Annual Operating Theatres Conference explores the latest innovations, strategies and best practices […]

Dust risks in hospitals

November 10, 2025 in , /by

When it comes to hazardous substances in healthcare environments, it can be easy to overlook the risk that dusts can pose. Although they can look innocuous, according to NHS Resolution, dust is among the highest occurring hazards in healthcare settings.(1) In fact, dust and fumes accounted for 37.5% of the settled claims made between 1 […]

Handling formalin spills in operating theatres

October 15, 2025 in , /by

Formalin spills in operating theatres can pose a significant risk to staff and patients. That said, formalin is not something that can easily be dispensed with. This is because it plays an important role in the preservation and optimal handling of tissue samples taken from patients in the operating theatre for histological analysis. This analysis […]

NHS hospitals pay the price for staff exposure to chemicals

September 18, 2025 in , /by

Exposure of hospital staff to chemicals is leading to a raft of claims for harm to their health. According to NHS Resolution(1), they received 371 claims for harm caused by exposure to substances hazardous to health from incidents occurring between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2023. Of the 165 claims that were settled during […]