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Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a well‐established therapeutic management programme for patients with chronic lung disease. Despite good clinical evidence, patient engagement can be poor. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the number of patients who are referred to PR at a District General Hospital, explore barriers and facilitators to attending and completing and identify strategies for improvement. Methods: All patients invited to attend PR in the calendar year 2016 were included in an analysis (N = 281). A structured questionnaire composed of barriers and facilitators was administered to patients that did not attend (non‐attenders, N = 20) and those that attended but did not complete the programme (non‐completers/"drop‐outs," N = 13). Improvement strategies were identified and implemented followed by analysis of patients invited to attend in 2017 and 2018. Results: Age, sex and smoking status are factors that affect both attendance and completion rates of patients attending PR. In our analysis, we were able to demonstrate that lack of awareness and low perceived benefits were important barriers for non‐attendance. In addition, overall uptake rate was improved but at the expense of completion rate. Conclusion: Our local non‐attendance rate in 2016 was 42%, with strategies aimed at improving patient and physician information, this was reduced to 11% (2018), below the national United Kingdom average. Unexpectedly, there was a worsening of completion rates and this raises questions about both appropriateness of referrals and whether completion rate rather than non‐attendance rate should be used as a performance indicator and standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Revalidation was launched in the UK to provide assurances to the public that doctors are up to date and fit to practice. Appraisal is a fundamental component of revalidation. Approximately 150 000 doctors are appraised annually, costing an estimated £97 million over 10 years. There is little understanding of the theory of how and why appraisal is supposed to produce its effects. A realist review of the literature was utilised to explore these issues, as they generate context-mechanism-outcome ( CMO) configurations, resulting in the creation of theories of how and why appraisal of doctors produces its effects. Methods A programme theory of appraisal was created by convening stakeholders in appraisal and searching a database of research on appraisal of doctors. Supplementary searches provided literature on theories identified in the programme theory. Relevant sections of texts relating to the programme theory were extracted from included articles, coded in NVivo and synthesised using realist logic of analysis. A classification tool categorised the included articles' contributions to programme theory. Results One hundred and twenty-five articles were included. Three mechanisms were identified: dissonance, denial and self-affirmation. The dissonance mechanism is most likely to cause outcomes of reflection and insight. Important contexts for the dissonance mechanism include the appraiser being highly skilled, the appraisee's working environment being supportive and the appraisee having the right attitude. The denial mechanism is more likely to be enacted if the opposite of these contexts occurs and could lead to game-playing behaviour. A skilled appraiser was also important in triggering the self-affirmation mechanism, resulting in reflection and insight. The contexts, mechanisms and outcomes identified were, however, limited by a lack of evidence that could enable further refining of the CMO configurations. Conclusion This review makes a significant contribution to our understanding of appraisal by identifying different ways that appraisal of doctors produces its effects. Further research will focus on testing the CMO configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the familiar occupational standards that underpin National Vocational Qualifications, the UK has a parallel if less complete system of competence or practice standards that are developed and controlled by professional bodies. While there is a certain amount of overlap between the two types of standard, recent research points to a distinct professional, as opposed to occupational, perspective on work competence. This can be characterised as focusing on ethics, professionalism and key standards rather than the detail of roles and functions; being designed to apply across the profession rather than having a core-and-options structure; and providing confidence in practitioners’ abilities to act as a member of the profession rather than in a bounded occupational role. These factors are illustrated by reference to practices in professions with which the author has worked, suggesting that there is a spectrum of approaches from this archetypally professional one to a more utilitarian, occupationally oriented one. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: There is growing interest internationally in linking reimbursement decisions with recommendations for further research. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) can issue guidance to approve the routine use of a health intervention, reject routine use or recommend use within a research programme. These latter recommendations have restricted use to 'only in research' (OIR) or have recommended further research alongside routine use ('approval with research' or AWR). However, it is not currently clear when such recommendations are likely to be made. Objectives: This study aims to identify NICE technology appraisals where OIR or AWR recommendations were made and to examine the key considerations that led to those decisions. Methods: Draft and final guidance including OIR/AWR recommendations were identified. The documents were reviewed to establish the characteristics of the technology appraisal, the cost effectiveness of the technologies, the key considerations that led to the recommendations and the types of research required. Results: In total, 29 final and 31 draft guidance documents included OIR/AWR recommendations up to January 2010. Overall, 86 % of final guidance included OIR recommendations. Of these, the majority were for technologies considered to be cost ineffective (83 %) and the majority of final guidance (66 %) specified the need for further evidence on relative effectiveness. The use of OIR/AWR recommendations is decreasing over time and they have rarely been used in appraisals conducted through the single technology appraisal process. Conclusion: NICE has used its ability to recommend technologies within research programmes, although predominantly within the multiple technology appraisal process. OIR recommendations have been most frequently issued for technologies considered cost ineffective and the most frequently cited consideration is uncertainty related to relative effectiveness. Key considerations cited for most AWR recommendations and some OIR recommendations included a need for further evidence on long-term outcomes and adverse effects of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues. Many policy review articles have concluded that alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) is both cost-effective and cost-beneficial. Yet a recent cost-effectiveness review for the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence suggests that these conclusions may be premature. Approach. This article offers a brief synopsis of the various types of economic analyses that may be applied to SBI, including cost analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis, cost-benefit analysis and other types of economic evaluation. A brief overview of methodological issues is provided, and examples from the SBI evaluation literature are provided. Key Findings, Implications and Conclusions. The current evidence base is insufficient to draw firm conclusions about the cost, cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit of SBI and about the impact of SBI on health-care utilisation.[Cowell AJ, Bray JW, Mills MJ, Hinde JM. Conducting economic evaluations of screening and brief intervention for hazardous drinking: Methods and evidence to date for informing policy. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010;29;623-630] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative performance evaluation has taken different forms depending upon the purposes of performance monitoring and the types of measures available. This paper investigates the different performance measurement systems in place in the social care setting, in particular for older people receiving community care services. In England, earlier systems to assist performance management within organizations have been eclipsed by national systems of regulation with top- down implementation of standards and measures. In Northern Ireland, by contrast, organizations have been compared descriptively without the use of national targets. Internationally, in Japan, organizations arranging similar services have had more local information available collected in a bottom-up fashion with greater employment of service user-level data. These differences in performance evaluation are located within an analytical framework permitting comparisons of system design and the use of measures. Conclusions are drawn concerning the breadth of evidence available for successfully monitoring service provision in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, external assessments of organizational effectiveness have played an increasingly pivotal role in the regulation of UK local authorities. Unlike most approaches to evaluation, which are concerned with the implementation and outcomes of policies, programmes or interventions, these assessments are concerned primarily with internal organizational processes. And in contrast to traditional forms of public services inspection, which focus on specific services, they seek to judge the capacity of an organization as a whole. Inspectors in England, Scotland and Wales have taken different approaches to assessments of local authorities, but in all three cases their judgements have excited considerable interest among policy-makers, achieving a much higher level of utilization than is usual for evaluative activities and being credited with leading to significant improvements in public service organizations. There are, however, important questions about the validity of the measures they use and the sustainability of this approach to driving public services improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

April 2009 saw the publication of the documents generated by the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport's museum Peer Review Pilot. This Policy Review offers both an overview of the process and a conceptual critique both of the Peer Review Pilot and the McMaster Review criteria on which the pilot was based. It is argued that the McMaster Review is grounded on a reading of excellence as “life-changing experiences” predicated on an imagined transformative aesthetic moment and that it is only by defining excellence in this way that McMaster could secure peer review as a legitimate means of identifying excellence. When transferred for the purposes of the Peer Review Pilot to the museum sector - with its long traditions of pedagogic and civic reform - this narrow reading of “changing lives” is no longer sustainable. The dislodging of the McMaster grounding assumption within the practice of the Peer Review Pilot creates conceptual fissures that can be traced throughout the Pilot's documentation. Specifically, a reading of the Pilot suggests both a need for a more careful reading of “peer”, a recognition of museums' multiple lines of accountability (including to the public) and the ongoing need for methodologies that might allow for an understanding of “life changing” within a much border frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores how the British National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) decide on promoting the value of health. It cites on the issue about a research wherein four drugs could benefit cancer patients which was rejected by NICE. NICE stated that those four drugs are not recommended as treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. On the other hand, it also states that NICE tackles on issues that ranges from medical procedures to public health. Moreover, the moves and decisions of NICE have been adopted by other countries.

The article focuses on the experiment which investigates several facts including the satisfied and dissatisfied individuals with training that was provided to them, the hours of training provided and comparison skills of the individual employee which is required for performing their jobs. It mentions that these findings are observed by the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey. It discusses that due to the effect of employees skills gap evidence, the clarifications to the Great Britain's low rate of productivity growth.

The article discusses the approach of British Energy Group PLC to the second programme of Periodic Safety Review (PSR) of its seven Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) in Great Britain. It says that the aim of the PSR is to evaluate the nuclear safety of all the NPPs of the company and to underwrite safe operation of the plant. It focuses on the applicability of the PSR to the regulatory regime of Great Britain, its operation standards and methodologies, and the timetable and activities of the PSR. It reveals the five headings of the PSR work, the aim of the consolidation process, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standard for PSR. It also discusses the management and organization of the project and the assessment of the regulators.

This article describes the development and implementation of a rotation programme for Band 5 nurses within the surgical directorate at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust. The article highlights the challenges raised for nurses with health service modernization and develops the rationale for the need for a different way of thinking. At Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, the author's evaluation has led to the development of the surgical rotation programme for Band 5 nurses. This rotation programme challenged basic clinical practice and traditional modes of staff placement. Indications, so far, are that quality of care for patients has improved and nurses' satisfaction has increased as a result of the implementation of the Band 5 surgical rotation programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DCMS paper “Supporting excellence in the arts”, also known as the McMaster Review, raised more questions than it answered in terms of how UK cultural policy is likely to develop in the future. Although many of its intentions are laudable, the report fails to resolve the inherent problems associated with defining, measuring and judging cultural “excellence”, even though this forms the core of McMaster's argument about how policy should develop. This may have significant implications for cultural institutions in the future. In addition, many of the report's recommendations may either be contradictory or impractical in the current policy climate - such as the desire for institutions to take more risks whilst simultaneously increasing visitor numbers and meeting other targets. As such, without a wider change in the Government's approach and a re-acknowledgement of culture's intrinsic value, “excellence” may just become the latest buzzword for practitioners, rather than the key principle upon which future decisions will be based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political decisions about the way that public health initiatives are implemented have a significant impact on the ability to evaluate their effectiveness. However, the influence of the political imperative has been little explored. This case study of key research, policy and practice events concerning one initiative, exercise referral schemes (ERSs), demonstrates that these schemes were encouraged to expand by the Department of Health (DH) before OH-funded evaluations had reported their findings and with little reference to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations. Policy evolved in parallel rather than in conjunction with the development of evidence, and experimental evaluations in England are now unlikely. This is due to the comprehensive coverage of schemes, widespread assumptions of effectiveness, likely difficulties in obtaining research funding, indirect adverse consequences of dismantling schemes and lack of appropriate process and outcome data. Embedding a commitment to robust evaluation prior to universal adoption of new initiatives has been shown to be feasible by policy-makers in the international setting. This is required to prevent the establishment of public health interventions that do not work and may cause harm or widen health inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article categorises the different criteria and weightings used to determine promotions in UK universities. The criteria were analysed to determine the extent to which they recognise research and teaching equally as evidence for promotion. The results show that universities have largely adopted formal parity in the criteria for senior and principal lecturers. However, for the higher and more prestigious ranks of reader and professor most universities exclusively require research excellence and do not allow similar applications based on teaching activities. Furthermore, there is a distinct and significant difference between promotion criteria in pre- and post-1992 universities, with the post-1992 universities much more likely to recognise research and teaching equally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationships have been reported between job satisfaction and productivity, consumer satisfaction, turnover, absenteeism, stress and burnout. We investigated job satisfaction amongst plastic surgical trainees at a regional plastic surgical unit. We aim to identify facets of the job influencing overall satisfaction. All plastic surgical trainees were recruited. A validated Job Satisfaction Survey was used to identify facets of their jobs resulting in satisfaction. Trainees in this unit expressed high satisfaction from the nature of their work and level of supervision. The trainees reported least satisfaction with the working conditions of their job. This study highlights the important factors influencing job satisfaction in a group of plastic surgical trainees. Identification of these factors allows trainers to ensure satisfaction of their trainees and subsequent higher performance, productivity and lower turnover and absenteeism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK's House of Commons Public Services Committee has described the state of performance measurement across the public sector as being data rich and information poor. This reflects the fact that the performance of most public services is extremely complex to measure, and as a result, performance measurement is often limited to those aspects that can easily and expediently be measured. Examining this conundrum, and in particular the processes, impact, and future of performance measurement in planning, provided the basis for research reported in this paper. The research drew from and relates to a profound and complex discussion about how the quality of the planning process per se can be reliably and usefully measured. The paper begins by summarising the results of a wide-ranging literature review in the form of a series of conceptual dilemmas. The objectives and methods of the research are then established, before the key research tool—the analytical framework—is presented. Space does not permit a full examination of the empirical phases of the research, although the results from this work is summarised before the research objectives are once again revisited. These lead, finally, to a suggested new model for measuring performance in planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the UK, the Department of Health's Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care (RGF) (DOH, 2001) requires that an independent ethical review is undertaken for all health and social work research. It is in the process of consulting and developing systems for appropriate social work ethical review that is comparable to those in existence within Britain's health sector. This article's purpose is to advance current debates by examining these ethical review initiatives and by so doing, facilitate a broader understanding of what is specific to social work research both within and beyond the UK. It is hoped this will strengthen and help legitimise understanding of its nature during the search for research excellence. It is suggested that situation ethics may provide a useful framework for approaching ethical review as it places an emphasis on the unique situation surrounding any given moral choice facing an individual at a particular time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of the survey concerning the effectiveness of performance-based assessment (PBA) in undergraduate medical education in Great Britain. The researchers had examined the experiences and opinions of medical students and teachers on employing PBA. It was revealed that direct observation could improve the validity and reliability of clinical competence assessments.

Identification of poor performance is in an integral part of government policy. The suggested approach for the identification of such problems, advocated by the General Medical Council, is that of appraisal. However, traditionally, there has been a reluctance to deal with poor performers, as all doctors have made mistakes and are usually only too ready to forgive and be non-critical of colleagues. The problems are widespread, and 6% of the senior hospital workforce in any 5-year period may have problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jacqueline Geoghegan describes how performance managing modern matrons can improve patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses training for hospital and healthcare chaplains in the light of different UK standards applied by various interested parties. It considers the different standards and concludes that there is no single applied standard for training for National Health Service (NHS) hospital chaplains across the UK. Those models that do exist take differing approaches, with some basing their systems on normatively defined views of what a chaplain needs to be effective on functional (NHS managerial) or interpersonal (clinical pastoral) levels, while others take a more hybrid approach blending these approaches with doctrinal concerns. Equally, there is wide variation across different denominations and employers. This document seeks to identify where there is common ground on domains of competence for chaplaincy training and suggest some progress for training which fits into NHS structures and systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the establishment of the General Medical Council (GMC) to evaluates the performance of doctors in Great Britain. The purpose of the GMC is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the community by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine. The performance assessment of doctors comprises two parts: peer review and test of competence.

Aims To discuss the results of the evaluation, assessment and effectiveness of the trust-wide clinical practice development of a preceptorship programme for newly qualified nurses at Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust. To apply the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model as a tool for monitoring and assessing the performance of the programme. Background Newly qualified nurses need support and preparation for their working role in their first recruitment. A preceptorship programme, developed around a quality-monitoring framework, was introduced to address this need at Salford Royal, an acute NHS Trust. Method The generic EFQM model was adapted to the specific case of the preceptorship programme. A questionnaire survey was undertaken to obtain evidence to assess how the EFQM tool was applied in the context of the preceptorship programme. Pre- and post-programme questionnaires were sent to preceptees and post-programme questionnaires to respective ward managers. Findings Following introduction of the preceptorship programme, recruitment and retention of newly qualified nurses have increased, with preceptees self-reporting increased levels of confidence. Use of the EFQM tool has provided the information that managers and departments require. Anecdotal evidence to date suggests that barriers are being broken down. Utilization of the framework has also identified areas of practice that need to change. Conclusions This paper demonstrates how use of a generic tool such as EFQM can provide systematic and evaluative information for nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that since its launch in 2001, the Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence has served manufacturing clients from all walks of the process sector--chemicals, polymers, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and agrochemicals. All Great Britain based process manufacturers qualify and can apply to benefit from the Redcar, England-based industry forum's diagnostic and performance measuring/benchmarking activities that aim to save manufacturers money in areas such as stock management, machine utilisation, lead-times, process variability and supply chain efficiencies.

This paper describes the second phase of a research study into the introduction of the 'modern matron' role in the National Health Service. It draws on information from a survey of modern matrons in 10 case study trusts and from semistructured interviews with purposively selected matrons and their key contacts. Three models of role implementation are identified, each typical of 'hybrid management' but with different emphases on matrons' professional (clinical) and corporate management responsibilities. There is evidence that matrons are starting to make an impact on different aspects of quality improvement in their trusts, but this is often limited by lack of forethought about where they should be located in the organization. It is suggested that, before making decisions about establishing modern matron posts, trusts need to have a clearer understanding both of the different contributions matrons can make to quality improvement and the challenges posed by this type of role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing primarily on examples from the UK, this paper argues that an under­standing of the history of psychiatry can be of practical use to clinicians, service users and carers. It can provide a window on the present and an explanation of some aspects of current practice. In addition, a study of the past can provide a vision of how things might be done differently in the present and in the future. Moreover, knowledge of the past can also serve to remind us of psychiatry's potential for misuse and the dangers inherent in a view of the world in which psychiatry is simply seen as a benevolent science destined to find an answer to mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of evidence-based policymaking (EBP) has gained renewed currency in the UK in the context of the current Labour Government's commitment to modernise government. Thus, a key driver of modernisation is seen as evidence based policy-making and service delivery--'what matters is what works'--in the context of a performance management strategy for regulation of public services. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the assumptions underpinning EBP asking, in particular, the extent to which the increased emphasis on the role of evidence in policy-making is indicative of instrumental rationality which erodes the normative basis of policy-making and undermines the capacity for 'appropriate' practice. The potential for theory-based evaluation to deliver on its evidential promise is critically examined and, based upon an expanded notion of 'practical reason', it is argued that we need to extend the scope of our concern from 'what works' to what is 'appropriate' in addressing complex and ambiguous social problems, embracing ethical-moral concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In its latest attempt to improve performance, the British National Health Service (NHS) has turned to the business models of performance management. A range of managerial instruments has been deployed, signaling national priorities to local managers and seeking to offer the information, incentives, and capacity they need to respond appropriately. The arrangements are intellectually coherent and offer the prospect of major improvements in the quality of British health care. However, implementation is at an early stage, and some key issues have to be addressed. The various performance management instruments have not yet been properly aligned, and greater conceptual clarity in implementation is required. Performance management will not be fully effective unless adequate capacity—in information, leadership, and managerial resources—is made available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe assessment of performance in the real world of medical practice is now widely accepted as the goal of assessment at the postgraduate level. This is largely a validity issue, as it is recognised that tests of knowledge and in clinical simulations cannot on their own really measure how medical practitioners function in the broader health care system. However, the development of standards for performance-based assessment is not as well understood as in competency assessment, where simulations can more readily reflect narrower issues of knowledge and skills. This paper proposes a theoretical framework for the development of standards that reflect the more complex world in which experienced medical practitioners work. MethodsThe paper reflects the combined experiences of a group of education researchers and the results of literature searches that included identifying current health system data sources that might contribute information to the measurement of standards. ConclusionStandards that reflect the complexity of medical practice may best be developed through an ‘expert systems’ analysis of clinical conditions for which desired health care outcomes reflect the contribution of several health professionals within a complex, three-dimensional, contextual model. Examples of the model are provided, but further work is needed to test validity and measurability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the dismissal rate for unauthorized absence, lateness or poor performance in a sample of unskilled and semiskilled British contract factory operatives in a manufacturing company. Effect on dismissal rate if the Employee Reliability Inventory were added to the hiring process; Relationship between invalid results and job tenure.

Discusses the problems associated with the collection and interpretation of police performance indicators in Great Britain. Includes difficulties in identifying number of incidents per 100 police officers; Percentage of emergency call answered in target time; Possibilities of under-reporting tests.

Investigates the teaching and learning of senior house officer in Great Britain. Significance of the relations between service and training elements on the performance of house officers; Teaching expertise of registrars over consultants; Need of senior officers to commit for training and personal educational training for performance improvement.

The Regular Commissions Board is the main mechanism for the selection of British Army officers. This study is the most comprehensive validation of that mechanism that has been undertaken. Current selection, training and reporting procedures were investigated and all types of male entrant were sampled. The validation utilized both training and job performance criteria. Within-study meta-analyses were carried out on the entrant and Corps subgroups. Total group validity coefficients of 0.33 (0.43 with resignations excluded), 0.31 and 0.31 were obtained for the prediction of regimental performance, and general officer and specialist training respectively, it is concluded that, given the current applicant population, the Regular Commissions Board is a fair, moderately valid method for the selection of officers, and it has utility. Observations are made concerning the basis of the Board's validity, and the value and design of assessment centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of biographical data was collected for a sample of 420 Royal Naval officers in training. Different scoring keys were developed for four training criteria, using England's (1971) Weighted Application Blank technique, and cross-validated on a further sample of 282 officers. Appropriately weighted biodata predicted one of the training performance criteria almost as well as the composite score of four psychometric tests of aptitude, and as the overall assessment rating of a lengthy assessment centre procedure. Of the two training wastage criteria, biodata succeeded in predicting voluntary withdrawal from training at a low level while neither of the other two predictors did so. Different biographical items predicted voluntary withdrawal and success in professional training. There was no evidence of differential validity for subsamples from different socio-economic or educational backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reprints the article "The Medical Research Council Applied Psychology Unit," by D. Brown, V. Batts and C.E. McGougan, which appeared in the 1970 issue of the journal "Applied Ergonomics." Origin of the Medical Research Council's Applied Psychology Unit in Great Britain; Emphasis of the unit's research in evaluating the effects of various stresses upon working efficiency; Examination of conditions which are likely to cause impaired car driving.

• 3-D printing used to manufacture primary standards for microwave measurements. • Printing using polymers; metal-plated to achieve required electrical performance. • Performance compares favourably with existing UK national standards. • New traceability approach proved: traceability originating at end-user locations. This paper describes the design, fabrication and testing of 3-D printed primary standards for use with the calibration of microwave vector network analysers. The standards are a short-circuit and a quarter wavelength section of line that are designed for use with the Thru-Reflect-Line calibration technique. The standards are realised in metal-pipe rectangular waveguide, covering the frequency range from 12 GHz to 18 GHz (i.e., Ku-band). The standards are polymer-based 3-D printed, which is subsequently metal plated to provide the required electrical conductivity. The performance of the standards is compared with conventionally machined standards that are used as part of the UK's primary national measurement system for microwave scattering parameters. The authors believe that this is the first time that 3-D printing techniques have been used to produce such calibration standards, and, that this could lead to a new approach to providing metrological traceability for these types of measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the background, development and formulation of employment standards for nurses in Great Britain. The standards, developed by the Working in Partnership Program (WiPP), contain guidance for both employers and practice nurses on the terms and conditions of employment. It also includes provisions for support of their professional development such as training and education, development support, and the promotion of outstanding job performance and strict adherence to the professional code of conduct.

The article reports on the impact of the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to the health-care reform in the U.S. It states that NICE has been regarded as a world leader in comparative-effectiveness studies. Moreover, the best-practice guidelines of NICE from early testing for breast cancer to child nutrition is welcomed by most medical professionals. The author emphasizes that several Americans are dying with cancer and losing their homes due to their inability to afford treatments that are not covered by a health insurance plan.

The article discusses why experts are still needed in various research fields and why metric-based research assessment can be suspicious. The focus of the article is the Great Britain Research Excellence Framework (REF) which will replace the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Topics include how the proposed REF will operate, such as its reliance on metrics to assess research quality, and why publication citations are a poor measure of research quality.

The article presents the performance ratings on social service for adults in Great Britain. Social care services for adults have improved for the fourth successive year but the rate of improvement is slowing down as in 2006. This performance assessment was designed to help councils understand their current performance and assist them in moving to a new system that is focused more clearly on outcomes for people who use care services.

The article advises the general public to look for the logo of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in Great Britain to ascertain whether their veterinary practice has been recognized by the RCVS under the Practice Standards Scheme. According to Lynne Hill, the president of RCVS, the scheme was intended for public awareness campaign and for providing assurance for high standards of veterinary care.

The quality standard, BS 5750 has been revised for the British Ministry of Defence (MoD). New identity of the standard will be as BS EN ISO 9000. Standards affected by the revision includes: Quality management and quality assurance, model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation and servicing. Another standards affected are model for quality assurance in final inspection and test. The Association of British Certification Bodies, in consultation with MoD, have declared that organizations making application to Third Party Certification Bodies after 1 August 1994 should normally be assessed to the appropriate BS EN ISO 9000:1994 standard.

The Management Charter Initiative (MCI) has announced that it is to develop vocational standards of best practice for quality managers throughout Great Britain. MCI, an industry-led organization, has been appointed by the government to devise a comprehensive set of standards to measure the performance of quality managers in the workplace, across all type and size of organizations. MCI aims to produce a model of standards for quality managers by October 1992. The standards will not only apply to quality managers but will also emphasize the quality aspect of a general manager's role.

Examines effect of working long hours on health in Great Britain. Proposal on minimum daily rest period; Right of employee to refuse more than 48 hours of work a week; Studies on claim of poor work performance and output at night.

Provides updates related to medicine in Great Britain as of April 1991. Comments made in the General Medical Services Committee about the general practitioner referral letters; Survey on the workload of general practitioners; Proposal of the General Medical Council to introduce performance review procedure.

The article presents an overview of foundation trusts and non-foundation trusts within the British nursing industry and of the different skills that nurses who work in each type of trust need to perform their job duties successfully. A discussion of the role that that nurse directors play in ensuring that standards of patient care and nursing are maintained within the trusts is presented.

The article discusses the research assessment exercise (RAE) by Great Britain that found academic excellence was widespread. The findings of an audit regarding the research quality of some of Great Britain's elite institutions has caused speculation on how the annual amount of government funding will be distributed. Topics include the British government and funding councils' criteria for appropriating funds, which is based on the best research, and an in-depth examination of the RAE's results.

The article reports on a protocol which has been developed by the U.K. Panel for Research Integrity in Health and Biomedical Sciences. The protocol, which is a step by step guide to investigating and acting on misconduct allegations, was developed in an effort to to try and standardize procedures which are used for investigating allegations of research misconduct and to ensure that cases related to research misconduct are handled fairly. A discussion of the history of the panel, which was established in 2006, is presented.

The article discusses the implications of the performance of the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) as well as the impact of its function in Great Britain. According to the author, NMC has implemented its statutory function, however, it fails to provide the proper and efficient standards of performance that the public aspires to see as regulator in the medical profession. In addition, the author suggests that fundamental changes should be carried out to attain a competent and sufficient service.