FEATURE ARTICLES

Mott MacDonald’s Modern Methods of Construction and healthcare specialists, Ben Carlisle and Andrew Parks, and the business’s Industrialised Design and Construction director, Trudi Sully, believe that industrialisation of design and construction methods could reduce costs at every lifecycle stage of healthcare facilities, as well as improve the quality of patient care. The firm’s managing editor, Claire Smith, spoke to them to find out more.

Architect, Martín Bentolila, of a|sh Sander Hofrichter Architekten in Hannover, argues that while technology has enabled the development of new treatments, and can significantly improve patient care and optimise time management in hospital settings, it is crucial that its adoption is not purely driven by commercial benefits, but rather responds to real need and enhances the quality of care.

Hiroshi Yasuhara, President of the Healthcare Engineering Association of Japan (HEAJ), discusses a study undertaken with the participation of 257 of the country’s hospitals into some of the key infrastructural and other adaptations they made to address a surge in patient numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2024 Smriti Singh – who has over 20 years’ experience providing strategic advice and delivering change and transformation programmes in the health and care sector, founded a strategic healthcare consultancy, Symbi Consulting – of which she is managing director. Here she, James Philipps, experienced architect and founder of architectural practice, Philipps & Co, and Neil Kukreja, a Medical Director and consultant surgeon, explore the key part clinical engagement can play in making new healthcare developments ‘more effective and more efficient’.

Jessica Whincop, an Architectural designer at Arcadis’ Architecture and Urbanism division, explains how a variety of sensory ‘tools’ – such as 3D printed models, and textured floorplans printed on large format paper using specialised raised, touch-sensitive ink, were developed to bring plans for the new Oriel facility being built for London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital to life for prospective users – including visually impaired people, during a series of patient engagement sessions.

WB Power Services Business consultant, Geoff Halliday, considers the issue of transferring complex loads onto a standby diesel generator. Today, standby generating sets are seeing an increase in the scope and variation of loads being connected to such plant.

Starkstrom, the specialist in clinical infrastructure for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, has recently opened a new demonstration and training facility at its Syston headquarters in Leicestershire. Here clinicians can interact with the latest advanced infrastructure and operating theatre technologies within a dedicated environment that showcases how these solutions can be integrated into the healthcare space. Louise Frampton, the editor of HEJ’s sister publication, The Clinical Services Journal, reports.

Following the Grenfell Tower fire, and Dame Judith Hackitt’s subsequent independent review of building regulations and fire safety, HTM 05-03: Part K: Guidance on fire risk assessments in complex healthcare premises,¹ has been revised, with some extensive changes. Maz Daoud, the head of Fire Safety, NHS Estates, NHS England – Commercial Directorate, here assesses the role of an HTM, the risks specific to complex healthcare premises, what’s new in the revised HTM 05-03 Part K, and how this applies in practice.

Some of the key infection risks posed by water systems in hospitals and other healthcare facilities were discussed at the Infection Prevention Society’s Infection Prevention 2024 annual conference at the ICC, Birmingham. One of the topics to generate considerable debate was the ‘pros and cons’ of removing washbasins from rooms housing ‘high-risk’ patients where risk assessment indicates too high an infection risk from outlets and associated drainage. Louise Frampton, the editor of HEJ’s sister magazine, The Clinical Services Journal, reports.

Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is embarking on a series of ‘transformative projects’ designed to improve patient care, enhance facilities, and ensure that families receive the best possible support during their healthcare journeys. As Mica Moore, a Business Support manager at the Trust explains, these ‘innovative schemes’ aim to reflect the world-class treatments provided inside the hospitals, while creating welcoming, safe, and sustainable environments for all who visit.

Jeenash Mistry, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s head of Operational Estates & Facilities, and Chris Yeo, director of Low Carbon Solutions at Vital Energi, describe a well-executed major decarbonisation project, undertaken against tight timescales, at two of the Trust’s hospitals.

Michèle Wheeler, International Health and Life Sciences director, and Karen Bryson, Transformation Expert adviser, at healthcare and life sciences consultancy, Lexica, delve into ‘the evolving landscape’ of the global health and care sector, with a look at ‘the pivotal part’ they believe technology and AI will play in future healthcare transformation.

With the increase in ‘social prescribing’ aimed at easing the burden on the NHS, there is renewed focus on the health benefits of gardens, and particularly on the physical act of gardening, among healthcare professionals and those within the care sector.

Jamie Marsh and Adam Hurst, both Partners at construction, property, and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall, discuss some of the key steps for healthcare estates management teams to take to ensure that PPP estate assets are optimised and offer the maximum value.

In recent years, the healthcare sector has been undergoing a significant transformation, with a focus on improving the accessibility and efficiency of crucial diagnostic services. Here, Phil Pavey, MD at Algeco Offsite, looks at how – as he puts it – ‘the latest platform design solutions are helping to roll out the benefits of Community Diagnostic Centres faster than other construction techniques’.

Mike Horrocks, a Senior Project manager in the Major Capital Projects Team at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, discusses some of the ways that social value can be embedded effectively in healthcare estate management, with examples from work undertaken by the Trust.

Ulrik Vadstrup, Regional Europe Sales manager for HVACR at ABB Drive Products, argues the case for drive and motor (DM) packages, as opposed to electronically commutated (EC) fans, when specifying HVACR systems

Last October, Reinsberg Group, the medtech holding of Prague-based private equity firm, BHM Group, acquired a majority stake in Brandon Medical – as part of its strategy to build a strong group of independent European medical manufacturers. Simultaneously, Brandon unveiled ‘a bold rebrand’.

Dr Nick Hill FIHEEM, director of Water Quality London, considers some of the implications for healthcare engineering and healthcare estate management personnel of an increasingly digital world, and discusses the results of a survey of senior such personnel on the topic.

The assessment, appointment, and acceptance of the Authorised Person role can be seen as a ‘tick-box exercise’, with many APs finding the role considered an ‘added extra’ to existing duties and roles. An IHEEM-registered AE discusses the extent and nature of the role using ventilation as the primary exemplar of the duties involved.