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No / The aim of this study was to estimate the patterns of care and annual levels of health care resource use attributable to the management of different wound types by UK’s National Health Service (NHS) in 2012/2013 and the annual costs incurred by the NHS in managing them. This was a retrospective cohort analysis of the records of 2000 patients in The Health Improvement Network (THIN) Database. Patients’ characteristics, wound-related health outcomes and all health care resource use were quanti ed, and the total NHS cost of patient management was estimated at 2013/2014 prices. The NHS managed an estimated 2⋅2 million patients with a wound during 2012/2013. Patients were predominantly managed in the community by general practitioners and nurses. The annual NHS cost varied between £1⋅94 billion for managing 731 000 leg ulcers and £89⋅6 million for managing 87 000 burns. Sixty-one percent of all wounds were shown to heal in an average year. Resource use associated with managing the unhealed wounds was substantially greater than that of managing the healed wounds (e.g. 20% more practice nurse visits, 104% more community nurse visits). Consequently, the annual cost of managing wounds that healed in the study period was estimated to be £2⋅1 billion compared with £3⋅2 billion for the 39% of wounds that did not heal within the study year. Within the study period, the cost per healed wound ranged from £698 to £3998 per patient and that of an unhealed wound ranged from £1791 to £5976 per patient. Hence, the patient care cost of an unhealed wound was a mean 135% more than that of a healed wound. Real-world evidence highlights the substantial burden that wounds impose on the NHS in an average year. Clinical and economic bene ts to both patients and the NHS could accrue from strategies that focus on (a) wound prevention, (b) accurate diagnosis and (c) improving wound-healing rates. / NIHR, Bradford Institute for Health Research, 3M United Kingdom Plc, Activa Healthcare Ltd, Brightwake Limited, KCI Medical Limited, Longhand Data, Medira Limited, Mölnlycke Health Care Limited, Park House Healthcare Limited, Pulsecare Medical Limited, Smith and Nephew Medical Limited, Sozo Woundcare Limited, Systagenix Wound Management Limited, Trio Healthcare, Urgo Limited, Willingsford Limited

Across six Chapters, this thesis examines the legal effects of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on the employees, Board of Directors and shareholders of companies with the objective of gaining in-depth understanding of this area. The thesis then develops legal and practical solutions for the problems and negative effects associated with M&As, specifically regarding employees, Boards of Directors and shareholder companies involved in such operations. This research determines to answer the following question: How do mergers and acquisitions (M&As) affect employees, management and shareholders rights and obligations? And what the legal basis for transferring their rights and liabilities between companies involved in M&As? Despite the importance of M&As as a means of economic concentration and emergence in terms of major commercial or industrial projects, the laws of both the UAE and Qatar do not sufficiently address the issue of mergers or their goals and conditions. They also fail to regulate acquisitions or to otherwise specify when acquisitions become necessary for companies. Furthermore, the laws do not specify the rights of workers regarding their knowledge of or participation in M&As or developed adequate solutions for the negative impacts on companies workers in such processes. These laws do not provide the right for the Board of Directors of the transferor company to merge with the Board of Directors of the transferee company. Additionally, they also unsuccessfully address the minority shareholders right (those not interested in the merger) to exit the merged company and recover the value of their shares. Moreover, the UAE and Qatar have not developed appropriate solutions for the exchange of shares between companies involved in mergers in the case of dissimilarity between the actual values of the shares of both companies. This has notably led to jurisprudence and judiciary confusion between the concept of M&As, their legal nature and the legal basis or theory for the transfer of the rights and liabilities of employees, management and shareholders between companies involved in M&A operations. In accordance with legal texts, the above discussion, M&A legal theory and the theory of the agency contract between a company and its Board of Directors, the thesis argues that M&As should not lead to cutting labour contracts or negatively affect employee rights as long as corporate ventures remain in place and M&A operations do not lead to the liquidation of merged or acquired companies. Also, the thesis shows that a company is linked with its Board of Directors through a special form of agency contract, which justifies the transfer of the rights of the Board of Directors of the merged company with regards to the merging or new company management. The thesis also develops solutions and processes for the exchange of shares between merged companies when there are differences between the actual values of their shares, through the shareholders of the merged company buying shares from the merging company or by selling their shares to the merging company and recovering the value of their shares in cash. The study also recommends taking a set of procedural measures during M&As, modifying some of the relevant legal texts of the UAE and Qatar, which would mitigate the negative effects of mergers and acquisitions. Furthermore, this research suggests ways to improve such laws to reach the level of those of developed countries, in order to encourage mergers and acquisitions in the region.

The growth in numbers of Kenyans seeking study opportunities in international settings has increased in the last ten years. Despite this growth, there is a clear and growing epistemological gap on student’s expectations and their experience, practice by host institutions and countries and how this impacts on students experience and study outcomes. To gain knowledge in this grey area, a case study design using a cross-sectional and a mixed data collection method was adopted. Data was collected in three stages beginning with a survey where questionnaires (N=300) were administered to Kenyan students pursuing higher education in the UK. In stage two, interviews were conducted with Kenyan students, Kenyan education policy makers and staff from UK universities. Stage three involved analysis of policy documents. Findings showed that many of the students had a positive study and living experience while for others it was negative characterised by study extension, leaving without an award, dropped out or did not socially adapt owing to practical challenges associated with living abroad. Government systems to support students during the pre-departure phase were lacking and those that provided information to potential students had an economic interest in their recruitment. Evidently, studying abroad for some was based on uniformed decision making. On arrival in the UK, some of the students did not use the university’s and Kenya Government support services as they were not aware that they were available. The main implication of this study is the need for a comprehensive policy and a code of conduct to guide the activities of various stakeholders involved in international education in Kenya, provision of support systems that meet the needs of international students’ and sensitisation of students to their use and availability. Key recommendations that aim to enhance the quality of experience of Kenyan students are made. This is to ensure the realisation of the potential benefits of an international education to the Kenya Government, UK institutions and the students. The recommendations relate to induction in Kenya and the UK, sensitisation, monitoring and information dissemination prior and during the study period. A department to coordinate and manage international education in Kenya is proposed with more stakeholder involvement.

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