Blog posts

A vision for the future of safe care: Maternal and newborn safety during COVID-19

The Institute of Global Health Innovation hosted their third World Patient Safety Day event on the 17th September, with the theme of safer maternal and newborn care. The aim of this year’s World Patient Safety Day was to raise awareness of maternal and newborn safety and engage different stakeholders – from healthcare professionals to decision-makers – in adopting strategies to improve them. This virtual event was chaired by Dr Mike Durkin, IGHI’s Senior Advisor on Patient Safety Policy and Leadership, and included a range of speakers and panellists. Throughout the event a graphic artist created a live illustration that captured key messages, displayed above.

Could a robotic scrub nurse be assisting our surgical procedures in the future?

Assistive robotic devices (ARD), machines controlled by a person to help carry out a task, are increasingly being explored for their potential to help deliver healthcare.

In 2019, the UK government launched a five-year research programme dedicated to making autonomous systems (such as robots to support older people at home) safe for public use. The appetite for advancing healthcare with robotics is driven by the multiple benefits these devices can offer, including freeing up healthcare staff for other tasks and minimising human error.

What’s it like to…work in mental health research?

By Dr Lindsay Dewa, Advanced Research Fellow, NIHR Imperial Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, IGHI

I have been aware of mental health from an early age. I just didn’t know it was called that at the time! I remember feeling deeply about things and wanting to make sure everyone was okay if they looked sad or down. It was then only natural that I leaned towards getting a degree in psychology – the science of the mind and behaviour. I then completed my MSc in research methods and forensic psychology. This naturally led me to embarking on a PhD studying sleep and mental health in prison populations.

Harnessing technology to tackle undernutrition

Almost half of all deaths in children under the age of five are linked to undernutrition. Most of these occur in the developing world. There is therefore an urgent need to address this pressing issue which costs the lives of millions of children every year. And as detailed below, the answer is not as simple as providing more food.

In a new Gut review, led by IGHI lecturer Dr Alex Thompson, scientists explore the role that technology could play in improving understanding, management and prevention of this complex condition, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.

Climate change is undermining people’s mental health – it’s time for action

I have spent the last 18 months encouraging effective international responses to COVID-19. I have learned that the coordinated and connected responses needed for responses to global threats are not easily achieved in today’s world. Yet unless nations can find ways to agree on the challenge, combine their responses and work willingly in synergy, success will be elusive.

Building the habit of working together is even more important when tackling climate change and its consequences. This particularly applies when exploring how changing climates affect people’s mental wellbeing.

There is indeed mounting evidence that climate change is affecting people’s minds as well as their bodies.