FEATURE ARTICLES

In one form or another, concrete has been around for some 7,000 years and will, it appears, continue being the sine qua non construction material for the foreseeable future, says John Milner, chairman of the Structural Precast Association. This article was first published in the March 2007 issue of Building Engineer.

The 2007 HEFMA Conference & Exhibition, to be held at the Hilton Blackpool Hotel on 23 and 24 May, will be the 10th annual event organised by the Health Facilities Management Association. Health Estate Journal presents a preview.

Health Estate Journal reports on how a leading NHS Trust is resolving a telephone number shortage crisis and is ensuring it has capability to meet major incident call demands.

Workplace slips and trips cost an estimated £500 million per year, and sometimes cause serious injuries. Health Estate Journal reproduces guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive on how correct floor cleaning can prevent accidents.

Healthcare facilities are generally commissioned according to standards laid down by specific stipulations or the consultant engineers. This commissioning process is normally only concerned with the physical functioning of the building services and is aimed at ensuring the installed services are operating according to the engineers’ specifications. It is no longer acceptable just to conduct a thorough clean, commonly called a hospital clean, and consider that as adequate for patient occupation, writes Kevin Moon.

New legislation in The Netherlands concentrates on the importance of correct ventilation in operating theatres to prevent post-operative infections. H.J Nicolaas, of the Netherlands Board for Health Facilities, explains the new guidelines.

How much do healthcare estate professionals ever think about what goes into the design of products used in the workplace every day? There may be much, much, more to them than is realised, as industrial designer Bruce Hutchison of DesignEdge Cambridge explains.

An energy efficiency review carried out by The Carbon Trust at The Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Addenbrooke’s Hospital identified areas where improvements could be made to plant, equipment and processes utilised within the site.

Building for Health, launched recently at Earls Court 2, was part of the Innovations for the Built Environment exhibition. The inaugural show lasted three days and drew a crowd of more than 12,000 visitors. James Verrinder reports.

The use of disposable curtains is providing distinct advantages in a busy accident and emergency department in the north east of England. Nicholas Marshall reports.

Dr Simon Eccles, consultant in emergency medicine at the Homerton University Hospital, London, and the national clinical lead, NHS Connecting for Health, talks about the vital role the National Programme for IT will play in the future delivery of healthcare.

The opening of the new Queen’s Hospital in Romford signalled the end for the Oldchurch Hospital and much of its equipment was recently auctioned. James Verrinder reports.

Dr David Moon, construction programme manager for procurement at the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), comments on how NHS Trusts can achieve sustainability targets through procurement and the steps already being taken to improve resource efficiency in health construction projects.

“Are engineers the new architects?” was the title of a paper presented by Ian Hurst of Buro Happold at last year’s Healthcare Estates Conference. The presentation proved to be slightly controversial, being described in this journal as “provocative”. Ian Hurst says that was not his intention and elaborates on his theme.

Health Estate Journal looks at the role of the newly-formed Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network (MBE KTN).

This Health Estate Journal ‘Then and now’ feature describes some thoughts from about 30 years ago on considerations to be given to hospital lighting. Much has changed in lighting technology in the past three decades but what is put forward in the article remains worthy of study. The article, by Alan Cockram (Building Research Establishment), appeared in the May 1976 edition of Hospital Engineering, the official journal of the Institute of Hospital Engineering (now IHEEM).

The rising level of theft in the construction industry has led to a new initiative in which marked equipment will be allocated a five-digit code and registered on a national database. Richard Harrison, sales and marketing manager, Kubota (UK), discusses the implications.

Schneider Electric Building Systems and Solutions has proved to be an effective, valuable partner in the development of a new PFI-funded acute general hospital for the Derby NHS Foundation Trust. The first phase of a £350 million development is now complete, with Schneider Electric providing an innovative, new solution to electrical distribution.

Legionella presents an ongoing cause for concern in any sector where duty of care responsibilities prevail. Jo Wolters, microbiologist and sector head of TA-Aqua+ at Tour & Andersson, describes a recently developed method of legionella prevention and control.

Graeme Hall, managing director of Brandon Medical, explains how the company’s latest range of pendants can maximise space.