RECENT FEATURE ARTICLES
Flexible healthcare models for sub-Saharan Africa
Polly Barker, director and Healthcare lead at independent architectural, design, and planning practice, tp bennett, discusses how, over the past 11 years, the business has worked on a number of hospitals across sub-Saharan Africa for NMS Infrastructure, ‘developing a flexible, adaptable, and low-impact model for delivering much-needed district and clinic hospitals across several countries’.
Mitigating uncertainty and risk on a complex ‘refurb
Healthcare architect and consultant, Efthimia Pantzartzis, and Nikolaos Pantzartzis, a mechanical engineer with extensive experience in complex public schemes, both of Studio di Ingegneria e Architettura Pantzartzis in Bari in Italy, discuss a recent project to comprehensively refurbish the Surgical Block at San Paolo Hospital in Puglia. They also set out some of the lessons learned on how to successfully undertake such a project amid the constraints and challenges posed by an unexpected event – in this case the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Pioneering’ UV-C system at Maidstone Hospital
A ‘pioneering trial’ at Maidstone Hospital in Kent has demonstrated the effectiveness of UV-C ventilation against bacteria and viruses in a clinical setting, together with the technology’s ability to enable significant energy-savings. Barry Paterson, director of Midtherm UV, a West Midlands manufacturer of UV-C air sanitisation products, reports.
Simple water-saving tech offering significant impact
It is often overlooked that water conservation, in all its forms, can reduce expenditure within the healthcare environment, and cut carbon emissions via the mechanisms used throughout the water supply process. Adrian Hibbert, a Commercial and Specification manager at leading UK toilet solutions and water management manufacturer, Fluidmaster UK, discusses some of the options for water saving through specification of more efficient flushing and filling toilet solutions.
Key elements to create a ‘home away from home’
Abigail Katovsky, Associate, and Britni Stone, Senior Associate, at NBBJ, discuss some of the most important elements when seeking to make hospital environments feel more homely, comfortable, and noninstitutional, and the significant impact this can have on patient recovery.
Managing the risk of P. aeruginosa in healthcare
Reducing the risk of Legionella is hard-wired in healthcare facilities, but recently attention has turned to another waterborne pathogen – Pseudomonas aeruginosa. According to Public Health England,1 in the year to March 2021, 39% of P. aeruginosa cases originated in healthcare, exacerbated by the increase in hospital admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tips for Estates managers dealing with PFI handback
As some of the first healthcare PFI contracts near their end, Lisa Barnes, a Partner at construction and property consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) UK, and a specialist advisor in PFI, discusses a number of key aspects of the ‘handback’ journey that Trusts’ Estates managers need to consider.
Expert guidance on the optimal sterilisation process
IHEEM-registered AE (D), Dr Brian Kirk, explains the importance of using validated sterilisation processes to produce sterile single or multi-use medical devices such as re-usable metal surgical instruments, and the internationally agreed standards covering the sterilisation process and steriliser equipment. He considers both high and low temperature processes, and the key considerations when investing in sterilisation technology, and when faced with the challenge of a new medical device which requires sterilisation.
Professionals come together to tackle infection control
In the context of the recent update to British Standard (BS) 8580-2: Risk assessments for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other waterborne pathogens, Armitage Shanks recently brought together in London experts from across the healthcare sector to discuss what the changes mean in practice, and the role of the multidisciplinary team in preventing and responding to waterborne pathogens. Anil Madan, UK Non Residential Marketing manager for Ideal Standard and Armitage Shanks, reports.
Ensuring a long life for the future’s healthcare buildings
The second day’s second keynote speaker at IHEEM’s joint Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland conference in Dublin was Brendan Smyth, Director of Health Projects within the Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD) Department, Northern Ireland.
Mapping a path to Net Zero for Northern Ireland
Erin Savage, Head of the Energy Strategy Team within Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy, gave the first keynote presentation on the second day of IHEEM’s joint Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland conference in Dublin. She used her talk to discuss Northern Ireland’s recently published new energy strategy, Path to Net Zero Energy, its key themes, and the key short, medium, and longer-term objectives enshrined in it.
Creating a roadmap for more automated surgery
Colin Dobbyne, operating theatre control system designer, examines the IoT technology that could modernise operating theatres to become ‘part of an active collaborative support system’.
Badly maintained buildings can be a risk for all
David Jones, from the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, argues that more thought must be given to the potential risk to patients, staff, and visitors from hospital buildings that are neither ‘sound’, nor ‘operationally safe’.
Designing for accessibility and a healing environment
Healthcare facilities have complex and stringent design requirements. With specification of interior finishes key, the UK Sales manager at Construction Specialties UK considers some of the main design considerations and legislative requirements.
Healthcare at the heart of local communities
As high streets decline, empty premises result in lower footfall for neighbouring businesses. But many hospitals are full, with little means to physically expand. A recent webinar presented by Health Spaces explored a potential solution.
The cost-of-living crisis is a household issue for the NHS
The increase in the UK cost of living has placed unprecedented pressure on operating budgets for NHS facilities and service-providers alike. An associate director at Archus outlines the ways NHS Estates and Facilities teams can address inflationary pressures, and protect service delivery standards, while maintaining the principles of partnership and social value.
‘State-of-the-art’ equipment for new Merlin Park theatres
Two new elective orthopaedic theatres at Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway have been equipped with Bender’s ‘state-of-the-art’ equipment, in a turnkey ‘supply and install’ project.
Glasgow Net Zero hub will boost local regeneration
Parkhead Health & Care Centre, under construction in Glasgow, will become Scotland’s first working Net Zero carbon health and social care facility, improving the lives of some 200,000 people.
Six decades of changing practice and thinking
Leading microbiologists from the Central Sterilising Club look back at some of the key developments in surgical instrument decontamination over the past six decades.
A ‘decade for delivery’ on carbon reduction in focus
The CEO of the Sustainability Energy Authority of Ireland on the drive to reduce the carbon footprint of the country’s public sector healthcare estate.
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