FEATURE ARTICLES

The application of a special, permanent antimicrobial coating to taps and mixers is being heralded as a significant step towards reducing healthcare-acquired infection rates. Nicholas Marshall reports

The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management’s (IHEEM) Healthcare Estates Conference and Exhibition is the leading national event for professionals in the field of estate planning, facilities management and healthcare engineering. According to IHEEM president Richard Nugent, the time is now right for estates and facilities professionals to seize the “once in a lifetime” opportunity to play their part in creating a health service with facilities that are the envy of the world.

The vital role of support services in ensuring the smooth operation of NHS IT networks is outlined by Eugene Conroy CEng, electrical director, Eta Projects, who goes on to provide an overview of the IT upgrade works at The Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust.

Luminaire manufacturer Whitecroft Lighting discusses the challenge of providing lit environments most conducive to patient recovery, while also ensuring luminaire surfaces comply with stringent infection control measures.

The first decontamination processing experience of utilising radio frequency identification tags hermetically sealed in metal cases is described by Graham Cox, decontamination and sterile services manager, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

From the announcement of the first of the new wave of PFI Hospitals in the late nineties, up to the recent demise of the ill-fated Paddington “super-hospital” scheme, the Government’s policy of using private contractors to finance, construct, and run healthcare facilities continues to divide opinion. That we are seeing more new hospitals and treatment centres appear in more areas of the UK than ever before is beyond dispute, but are these new buildings actually benefiting patients in ways not seen before? And is the Government’s heavy reliance on PFI providing value for public money, or, as some have argued, wasting millions on bureaucracy, inflated private profits and sub-standard construction?

Andrew Tweedie, project manager and cleanroom consultant, reviews the impact of the latest HBN 13 on the cleanroom within the sterile services department.

Problems of cross-infection and drug-resistance have been highlighted in the health sector for many years. For this Health Estate Journal ‘Then and now’ feature, Mike Arrowsmith BSc (Hons) CEng FIMechE FIHEEM, technical editor, provides commentary on an article which was published in The Hospital Engineer, the journal of the Institution of Hospital Engineers, in April 1960. The text of this article follows that of the commentary.

Stuart Ward, MSc BA CEng FCIBSE FIHEEM MASHRAE, provides details of a study of oxygen flow rates at the Clifford Hospital, Panyu, Peoples Republic of China. For this article – previously published in the August 2004 edition of Health Estate Journal – he was presented, in May this year, with the Northcroft Silver Medal. The medal is awarded
annually to the IHEEM member having written the HEJ article considered to have contributed most to the advancement of hospital engineering. Stuart Ward is chief engineer at the Clifford Hospital.

IHEEM is intent on seizing opportunities to grow in size and strength, and a new strategy to propel the institute forwards is now taking shape. Managing editor Nicholas Marshall reports.

Dennis Lenard, chief executive of Constructing Excellence, highlights the importance of the ProCure21 initiative, and explains why the right procurement process and project team is so inextricably linked to the future health of the UK.

Dr K.C. Lam, of the Department of Building Services Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, emphasises the importance of extremely thorough briefings early in the design process.

This Health Estate Journal 'Then and now' feature describes thoughts from over 50 years ago on the importance of anti-infection precautions. A brief introduction is followed by a slightly edited version of part one of paper by A.F. Dence MA (Oxon), which was published in the January 1950 edition of The Hospital Engineer (the official journal of the Institution of Hospital Engineers, now IHEEM). The second part of the paper, which appeared in the April 1950 edition of The Hospital Engineer, will be republished, with minor alterations, in the February 2007 issue of Health Estate Journal.

Special report from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM).

The Government has unveiled a vision for emergency care that transforms the way A&E services are delivered in England. Provision of new style departments will introduce significant extra challenges for those having estates and facilities responsibilities. Health Estate Journal examines the vision in depth.

Clear at IHEEM's recently held multiple-track annual conference was how the workload of those providing and managing healthcare estate continues to grow. Nicholas Marshall and Lesley Adair report on numerous important pointers put forward for these professionals.

Precision bearings and a novel direct drive system have been developed for the latest CT scanners, helping to cut noise levels by 50% and enabling faster examination times.

Paul Lakra of Planer explains his personal experience of using the company's Assure24seven monitoring system to cut the firm's heating bills.

A modular construction approach was used to create a cardiac-catheter unit in Surrey.

Wireless communication is not a new concept, but developments in the technology can lead to problems of implementation and other difficulties. However, help is at hand - Ascom Wireless Solutions offers some basic guidance and dispels the myths.