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Delay in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer is now on the policy agenda. A recent government directive compels hospitals to ensure that all patients with a suspected breast cancer see a specialist within two weeks of an urgent referral from their General Practitioner. However the impact of system delay (the time taken for a women to be evaluated, diagnosed and treated once she has sought help) on the stage of disease and outcome in terms of survival is thought to be negligible.\ud This empirical study aimed to explore the pathways that women followed in the process of diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer to determine how long each stage of the process took. To achieve this a prospective quantitative survey was undertaken that plotted the pathways of 300 women referred to three hospitals breast clinics, to determine whether differences in the organisations of services could explain any variations in the length of the process. The data was collected during observation of active clinics, and in addition interviews with health professionals and patients explored their perceptions of the process.\ud The study found that there were differences in the way that services for patients with symptomatic breast problems were organised at each of the research sites. Variations were also found in the length of time taken for each stage of the process of diagnosis and treatment both within and between the sites. The variations in the time taken for the process appeared to reflect the differences in the way in which the sites were organised. Although the study did not explore the clinical outcome of delay, it was found to be important because of the anxiety experienced by women waiting for appointments and results. Minimising delay would reduce the length of time women suffer the anxiety of uncertainty.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that poor mental health and loneliness increased in the UK population during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time media reports suggested increased public engagement with arts and culture during the lockdown period. Aim: To explore the levels of and impact of arts engagement amongst staff and students from one UK university during the first pandemic lockdown. Methods: 112 staff/students completed an online survey which asked about their arts engagement and invited them to write a haiku about their lockdown experiences. Findings: Participants engaged in a wide range of arts, cultural and creative activities; some engaged more frequently and/or in new activities. Participants reported having more time and opportunity to undertake such activities, and these activities improved their mental wellbeing and facilitated social connections. Forty-seven participants wrote a haiku, and it was evident that the haikus provided a different perspective on lockdown experiences, enabling the expression of emotions including fear, loneliness, and a lack of freedom, as well as hope and optimism. Conclusion: Haiku poetry added nuance and complexity to the themes on engagement and impact of arts, cultural and creative activities, which supported mental wellbeing and social connections through the first UK lockdown.

Background: This service evaluation examined the impact of Dance for Health, a programme of weekly group dance sessions for older patients, which took place on wards in an acute hospital setting.\ud \ud Methods: Qualitative and quantitative observations using the ArtsObs scale were undertaken of 64 dance sessions over a 12-week period involving seven different hospital wards encompassing 313 patient attendances.\ud \ud Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in the mood of the majority of patients taking part. People engaged mentally and physically with the activity were distracted from their medical condition and from what was happening on the ward. Patients appeared relaxed and were willing to express themselves creatively.\ud \ud Conclusion: The Dance for Health programme had a positive impact on group participants, promoting movement and physical activity for older patients. It is a meaningful and enjoyable activity, which encourages social interaction and provides respite from the medical environment.

Aim and objectives:\ud To explore staff perceptions of the impact of weekly music and movement sessions involving older patients and staff on the wards where ‘Dance for Health’ sessions take place.\ud Background:\ud Dance for Health is a programme of weekly group dance sessions, which take place on wards in an acute hospital setting. Recent research demonstrates the value of creative arts activities in clinical settings across the globe. However, there is little research exploring the impact of dance programmes for frail older people in acute hospital settings, or healthcare professionals’ perceptions of the impact of these sessions on patients, staff and the ward environment. \ud Method:\ud A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff who had supported patients participating in Dance for Health and the ward managers where the sessions took place. Data analysis was undertaken using a thematic analysis approach. \ud Findings:\ud The sessions challenged staff assumptions about older patients’ musical preferences and the level of physical activity patients were able to undertake. Staff felt that the shared experience and interactions within the group enhanced staff-patient relationships. Staff taking part in the sessions reported feeling pleasure seeing their patients enjoying themselves and valued being a part of delivering the sessions. \ud Conclusion:\ud The Dance for Health programme in an acute hospital setting has the potential to promote person-centred care through encouraging self-expression and individuality. It is a meaningful and enjoyable activity, which encourages physical activity and social interaction and enriches the aesthetic experience of the hospital environment. \ud Implications for Practice:\ud This is the first study reporting on the use of dance sessions for older people in an acute hospital setting. Dance for Health had a positive impact on staff attending the sessions and enhanced staff-patient relationships. Staff support is key for effective delivery.

Introduction:\ud \ud The purpose of this experiment was to explore the direction of scattered secondary ionizing radiation to a patient. A left lateral radiographic examination of the elbow was deemed appropriate due to its close proximity to radiosensitive organs and record dose limiting opportunities upon wearing a lead-rubber apron.\ud \ud Methods:\ud \ud An anthropomorphic phantom and lead-rubber apron (Pb 0.35 mm) was used with a 15 cc ionization chamber (model 10,100 AT TRIAD) to measure scattered radiation to radiosensitive organs. Dose readings were recorded before and after in order to quantify dose reduction. Pearson's correlation, linear regression, t-test and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics were used to affirm how likely dose limitation was attributed to chance (p < 0.05).\ud \ud Results:\ud \ud The lead-rubber apron offered dose reduction to most radiosensitive organs. Notably, ionizing radiation was significantly reduced to the left breast 0.0083 μGy (98%), right breast 0.0000 μGy (99.9%) and spleen 0.0262 μGy (99.9%). No empirical benefit was recorded for testes and ovaries. Interestingly, the thyroid recorded an increase in dose (0.1733 μGy; p = 0.01). This was later mitigated using a thyroid collar but identifies increased stochastic risks if lead-aprons are worn alone. Scattered radiation was also reduced to both eyes, which were not directly covered.\ud \ud Conclusion:\ud \ud Lead-rubber aprons are generally utilized to limit ionizing radiation, yet this article offers insight whereby increases to ionizing radiation to the thyroid are plausible when wearing a lead-rubber apron alone. Whilst these findings cannot be generalized to other radiographic examinations it provides insight into a potential increase risk of scatter to a radiosensitive organ.\ud \ud Implications for practice:\ud \ud This paper has implications because it identifies that lead-rubber has an impact on scattered ionizing radiation to radiosensitive organs for a lateral elbow examination. Further, it identifies the potential for ionizing radiation to be increased to the thyroid upon wearing a lead-rubber apron alone.

This report presents an updated critical review of the emerging body of literature on the value of the arts in clinical and therapeutic interventions. Based on a systematic search of the literature, there were two distinct strands of work undertaken. The first strand, builds on the seminal review undertaken by Staricoff (2004), which examined and identified a number of benefits to using arts in healthcare settings. The second strand of the review, focuses on caregivers’ perceptions of the value of the arts in therapeutic and clinical interventions.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the support that informal carers receive from the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust (The Conquest Hospital site).\ud \ud The aims of the research were to:\ud · Examine carers' experience of the care and support provided by the NHS\ud Trust.\ud · Advise on ways in which services for carers can be improved and developed.\ud The objectives of the research were to examine:\ud · Carers' expectations of the types of support and information which they should\ud receive when the person they are caring for is admitted to hospital.\ud · The extent to which the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust Code of Practice for\ud involving carers is being implemented.\ud · The extent to which carers feel that their expectations have been met, their\ud needs and interests have been taken into account and they have been involved\ud as active partners in the care provided in hospital.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the support that informal carers receive from the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust (The Conquest Hospital site). \ud \ud Aims and Objectives\ud The aims of the research were to:\ud Examine carers' experience of the care and support provided by the NHS Trust.\ud Advise on ways in which services for carers can be improved and developed.\ud \ud The objectives of the research were to examine:\ud Carers' expectations of the types of support and information which they should receive when the person they are caring for is admitted to hospital.\ud The extent to which the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust Code of Practice for involving carers is being implemented.\ud The extent to which carers feel that their expectations have been met, their needs and interests have been taken into account and they have been involved as active partners in the care provided in hospital.