Mainstreaming disability rights in the European Social Pillar

The report provides a disability perspective on the European Pillar of Social Rights. Taking the Social Pillar principles as a starting point, it advocates for a strong disability mainstreaming approach throughout the developing policy framework. The full participation and equality of people with disabilities should not be limited to disability-specific policy proposals but, like gender equality, should be considered in all relevant policies and initiatives of the European Union. This report provides a starting point from which to achieve this within discussions on the Social Pillar. The Social Pillar is an important development for the EU that renews its focus on effective rights for EU citizens. Its three core themes – equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions and social protection and inclusion – are all relevant to people with disabilities and each area raises important questions about disability rights. Those rights are established not only by EU law but also in international law under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which the EU is a party. This report represents a substantial work of synthesis, arising from a European Commission request to the Academic network of European disability experts (ANED) in 2016. It has been produced by the collective effort of more than 40 authors, including country experts, topic experts and thematic rapporteurs. The result is a compendium work of reference that covers all of the 20 principles of the Social Pillar before driving deeper into an analysis of selected themes. Further evidence and examples are provided in individual country reports on these themes, from EU Member States and Associated Countries, which are all published on the ANED website

Detection of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry samples using Florescent in situ Hybridization (FISH)

In this study, a protocol using Fluorescent in situ Hybridization (FISH) for the detection of Campylobacter spp., particularly C. jejuni, in naturally contaminated poultry samples was developed and its application evaluated. The protocol used would eliminate the need for the conventional plating of enriched samples, thereby significantly reducing the time needed to detect the presence of Campylobacter spp. Using a fluorescence plate reader, the detection limit for pure C. jejuni was 7.33 log10CFU/ml. Several types of enrichment media were tested and Bolton Broth with (aerobic and microaerophilic) and Bolton with Campylobacter growth supplement (microaerophilic) were most effective for culturing samples spiked with low levels of C. jejuni. Applications of FISH for spiked poultry samples showed that blood will interfere with sample processing and greatly increase non-specific background fluorescence

Principles to guide sustainable implementation of extended-scope-of-practice physiotherapy workforce redesign initiatives in Australia: stakeholder perspectives, barriers, supports, and incentives

Sustainable implementation of new workforce redesign initiatives requires strategies that minimize barriers and optimize supports. Such strategies could be provided by a set of guiding principles. A broad understanding of the concerns of all the key stakeholder groups is required before effective strategies and initiatives are developed. Many new workforce redesign initiatives are not underpinned by prior planning, and this threatens their uptake and sustainability. This study reports on a cross-sectional qualitative study that sought the perspectives of representatives of key stakeholders in a new workforce redesign initiative (extended-scope-of-practice physiotherapy) in one Australian tertiary hospital. The key stakeholder groups were those that had been involved in some way in the development, management, training, funding, and/or delivery of the initiative. Data were collected using semistructured questions, answered individually by interview or in writing. Responses were themed collaboratively, using descriptive analysis. Key identified themes comprised: the importance of service marketing; proactively addressing barriers; using readily understood nomenclature; demonstrating service quality and safety, monitoring adverse events, measuring health and cost outcomes; legislative issues; registration; promoting viable career pathways; developing, accrediting, and delivering a curriculum supporting physiotherapists to work outside of the usual scope; and progression from "a good idea" to established service. Health care facilities planning to implement new workforce initiatives that extend scope of usual practice should consider these issues before instigating workforce/model of care changes