Healthcare Sector

Women are less likely to be given painkillers and face a longer wait to be seen by hospital doctors, according to new research into gender bias and how patients are viewed by medics

More work needs to be done to ensure healthcare workers don’t suffer injuries while moving patients, leaving them in so much pain that many want to quit the profession.

Creating more cost-effective training could help address a shortage of qualified nurses, so is a move towards using immersive virtual reality teaching sessions the answer?

A new report reveals some of the latest innovations in healthcare, cleantech and industry that could change the way we live our lives in the future.

Could a lack of diversity among the body types that medical students experience when they’re learning to carry out examinations have an impact on patient safety?

‘Decision fatigue’ has been blamed for depleting our power to make effective choices but could its impact on the way we think have previously been over estimated?

A report by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has recommended a series of measures to reduce the risk of the wrong implant being inserted into patients, including where packaging and labelling could make a difference.

Is healthcare ready for the benefits that artificial intelligence can deliver and what can organisations do to make sure they’re properly prepared to make the most of the rise of new technology?

New advice has been released on keep patients safe by reducing the risk of mistakes being made when injections are given during anaesthetic procedures

Introducing human factors thinking to healthcare can create better working environments where staff feel included and patients benefit from better outcomes, according to a leading surgeon.

A smart lamp that can detect and prevent falls and a new secure hospital in Ireland are among the designs honoured this year for making a difference to mental health.

Tune in to the latest news and thinking in human factors with two new podcasts – All Systems Ergo, focused on healthcare topics, and the Pulse, our own series packed with updates and insight from the CIEHF.

Discover more about designing tasks and improving outcomes and wellbeing with the latest chapter of a free ebook exploring how human factors can make a difference in health and social care.

Teams working on the design of a new hospital have embraced human factors thinking to ensure the new health facility can deliver a better experience for the staff and patients who’ll be using it.

Patient safety and the mental wellbeing of junior doctors could be being put at risk by a lack of nutritious food available to medics when they’re working night shifts, a new survey suggests.

The pandemic highlighted the importance of proper PPE for keeping healthcare workers safe, however new research examines the physical effects of wearing the equipment while facing a heavy workload.

Doctors back on Earth could carry out emergency surgery on astronauts in space thanks to a miniature medical robot that will soon be tested during trials at the International Space Station.

This week marks World Patient Safety Day, the annual campaign to reduce harm in healthcare, and human factors is already making an important difference in delivering better outcomes for patients.

A new guide is being developed to help health and social care workers learn more about human factors methods and approaches, and we want your help to make it as effective as possible.

A pioneering project is helping medical students learn in a more realistic and immersive environment by enabling them to treat hologram hospital patients in the first training scheme of its kind.

Human factors thinking is helping lessons to be learned about improving safety in blood transfusions by improving understanding of why things might go wrong and what action can be taken.

Teaching decision-making skills to junior medical staff could help them make faster and more effective diagnoses in emergency departments and reduce the gap between them and senior doctors.

Getting the right diagnosis is vital for patients, but could attempts to reduce the risk of errors by doctors be focusing on the wrong factors and do we need to think again about the advice given to medics?

When it comes to PPE, one size definitely doesn’t fit all and more still needs to be done to give women working in healthcare the right equipment to keep them safe and comfortable.

A self-powering health sensor that can be worn by patients and doesn’t need wires or a battery pack has been created using a new material that’s low-cost and comfortable to wear.

The CIEHF has launched a new campaign to help people working with oxygen at the bedside of hospital patients. Leaks of the gas can cause fires and even explosions, meaning it’s critical to ensure it’s handled correctly – particularly when staff are working under great pressure and stress.