ap∙pren∙tice
“one who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers”
The system of apprenticeships was first developed in the Middle Ages, and came to be supervised by craft guilds and town governments. Master Craftsmen employed apprentices who were an inexpensive form of labour, in exchange for providing food, lodging and formal training. Apprentices usually began at 10-15 years of age and would live in the Master Craftsman’s household until the completion of their contract. Most apprentices aspired to becoming Master Craftsmen, and were required to serve seven years before being allowed …

BMA calls for an end to child labour in surgical instrument industry (issued by BMA Scotland Monday 22 Feb 2010) The BMA has today [Monday 22 February 2010] highlighted the dangerous working conditions in Pakistan that lie behind the manufacturing of surgical instruments purchased by the NHS. At the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight, the BMA is calling on the NHS in Scotland to adopt new guidance on ethical purchasing.
The BMA’s Medical Fair and Ethical Trade group has just launched an information campaign telling doctors …

Surgical instruments have evolved over thousands of years, allowing advancements in surgical techniques to save millions of lives. Small copper knives dating back to 3000BC are believed to be some of the first surgical instruments on record.
The ancient Egyptians recorded surgical procedures as early as 2500BC. The earliest written representation of surgery is that found in Egyptian ruins and early papyri. A number of minor procedures are noted, including the practice of circumcision, which is the only surgical procedure referred to in the Bible. Knives with stone blades were used, …

Quality is everything, and something which must never be compromised. Since the formation of our Company over thirty years ago, we have strived to produce only the highest quality surgical instruments. We work hard to train our staff, and teach them that quality really does come as standard at Platts & Nisbett.
Unfortunately these values do not appear to be shared by some companies, who may be supplying surgical instruments which are of inferior quality. As the market has been flooded with poor quality instruments over the years, many hospitals are …

“Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.”
John Ruskin
“Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.”
Henry Ford
“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”
William A.Foster

The NHS was born out of a long-held ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth. So, how did it all start?

Aneurin Bevan, founder of the National Health Service was born in 1897.
Bevan left school at 13 and began working in a local colliery.
He became a Trades Union Activist and won a scholarship to study in London. It was during this period that he became convinced by the ideas of socialism.
In 1929 he was elected as a Labour Member of Parliament.
After the landslide Labour …