FEATURE ARTICLES

Successes achieved in the development and running of a new cardiothoracic centre in Essex are numerous. Nicholas Marshall reports.

Last summer the Department of Health (DoH) announced that, as part of tough measures to further reduce hospital-acquired superbug infection rates and simultaneously restore public confidence, every English NHS hospital should complete a thorough “deep clean” by the end of this month. Jonathan Baillie reports on progress to date and examines the key issues raised.

Ailsa Clews, hotel services manager for the Gilbert Bain and Montfield Hospitals in the Shetlands, was named Sodexho Healthcare Manager of the Year 2007 late last year for her hard work and skill in ensuring the smooth running of hotel services at both hospitals and three health centres serving the Islands’ 22,500 residents. Jonathan Baillie talks to her about her career, achievements, and biggest challenges to date.

The Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc) recently held a conference on decontamination focused on the latest guidelines and best practice. High on the agenda were issues such as the quality control of instruments and protection of patients from the risk of contracting CJD. Louise Frampton reports.

Just over a year after publication of the Department of Health’s initial ‘Safety First’ report on patient safety, Patricia Young, design specialist, Built Environment, at the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), says while good progress is being made to reduce the number and severity of patient incidents, there remains considerable scope for further improvement.

Dr Sue Hignett Ph.D and Jun Lu M.Arch B.Eng of the Healthcare Ergonomics and Patient Safety research Unit (HEPSU), Department of Human Sciences, Loughborough University, discuss the development and application of an important testing system designed to ensure sufficient space is provided around hospital beds for staff to undertake basic tasks such as washing and dressing of patients.

Drawing on experience in Germany, Jochen Abel of Universität Karlsruhe (TH), Facility Management (TMB), Karlsruhe, highlights the importance to public private partnerships in the healthcare sector of developing effective models which can the be used time and again in future.

Australia’s West Moreton Health Service District in Queensland was among the first to participate in the Queensland Health Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) programme. Harry Barron, MIHEA, technical services co-ordinator, West Moreton South Burnett Health Service District, Queensland Health, describes the resulting major energy saving benefits experienced by the district’s largest public hospital.

Heralded on their introduction as important lifelines for patients in hospital, patient information / entertainment systems and their manufacturers have faced considerable commercial and practical challenges, leading some suppliers to abandon the UK market altogether and leaving others under massive financial pressure. Jonathan Baillie reports

Healthcare providers increasingly recognise the positive impact art in hospitals can have on patient wellbeing and recovery. Neil Orpwood, an associate at HLM Architects, stresses how this philosophy was successfully applied right from project start-up during the design and construction of a top East Yorkshire cancer care centre.

The importance of air cleaners is highlighted by Graham Wright of Sanyo Air Conditioners.

Careful selection and incorporation of art works in a hospital need not necessarily be an expensive exercise and, as four recent examples from leading arts in healthcare specialist Artinsite show, can dramatically improve environments.

Cabling system company Connectix describes the advantages, and explains the potential pitfalls, of using preterminated cabling with 10 Gb transmission.

Chris Potter of P+HS Architects discusses the growing role of primary healthcare facilities and argues that, as a wider range of services are demanded from such establishments, a considered approach is essential both to their siting, and to their adaptability and ability to meet future needs.

Vernon Barry, UK general manager of tubular safety solutions specialist Kee Klamp, explains how healthcare premises specifiers can improve a building’s hygienic performance and play a key part in infection control measures through the use of new anti-bacterial coating technology.

Tom Cumberlege, public sector manager at the Carbon Trust, describes the organisation’s initiative to reduce NHS carbon dioxide emissions.

Demonstrated in this article is how SKF hybrid bearings can solve hospital fan failure problems and create significant savings in maintenance.

Alistair Cory, principal of architecture and design firm NBBJ Ltd, explains why the challenge of designing sustainable acute hospitals should be accepted.

TSB 155, the first Augmented Category 6 cabling standard, is reviewed by cabling system company Connectix, which also provides a specification guide for cable marking and administration.

Exceptionally high standards achieved in the architecture and design of healthcare buildings were recently recognised at an awards ceremony in London. Nicholas Marshall reports.