RECENT NEWS

Kenneth John Eatwell, a member of the Institute for 48 years, and one of the original subscribers to the formation of the Institute of Hospital Engineers in the 1960s, has died, aged 90. His career started in Swindon, where he was an apprentice fitter-turner with the Great Western Railway Company.

To further assist prospective members when applying to join IHEEM, the Institute has launched an online application form for individual membership which supplements the online affiliate application forms already available.

IHEEM President, and director of NHS Estates & Facilities Scotland, Paul Kingsmore, opened proceedings by welcoming a capacity audience of delegates who had travelled the length and breadth of the country to listen to presentations from industry leaders.

SmartGlass International, the global manufacturer of electronically switchable glass, has joined IHEEM as a Company Affiliate Member.

German-headquartered GROHE is said to be Europe’s largest, and the world’s leading, single-brand manufacturer and supplier of sanitary fittings. GROHE UK, the group’s UK arm, has recently become an IHEEM Company Affiliate Member.

IHEEM is keen to encourage suitably experienced personnel from a wide range of engineering, microbiology, quality assurance, or sterile services backgrounds interested in becoming an IHEEM-registered AE (D) to undertake the Advanced Course in Sterilising Technology (ACIST).

An IHEEM Scottish Branch St Andrew’s Day lecture being held at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley on 30 November (12.15 pm for a 12.30 pm start), will see Alan Seabourne, project director on the New South Glasgow Hospitals Development Programme, describe the experience of procuring and operating an NEC 3 contract on the project.

IHEEM has confirmed that the seminars planned for early next year on decontamination of medical instruments, and infection/pest control (HEJ – October 2011), will both be held in February.

IHEEM has welcomed Richard Boyce CIHEEM as the Institute’s acting Chief Executive Officer. A long-standing member of the Institute, and a member of IHEEM’s Council for over 15 years, Richard Boyce served as chair of the former Executive Committee, and has an extensive health service career background.

A new modular building at Hull Royal Infirmary that provides modern hospital facilities for up to 90,000 patients annually has been delivered by Portakabin.

World-leading surgeon, and former Health Minister, Lord Darzi (pictured right) outside the unit with the company’s development director, Gary King), has made a special visit to one of Vanguard Healthcare’s mobile operating theatres while it was at the new Covidien headquarters in Fareham for an open day.

The rapid construction of one of the UK’s largest concrete frame structures – for the £300 m Forth Valley Royal Acute Hospital at Larbert, was aided by the use of Bamtec, an off-site fabricated steel “carpet” of floor slab reinforcement, says its exclusive manufacturer in the UK, Hy-Ten.

The Department of Health has published its strategy to accelerate the release of public sector land to help local communities and the NHS.

Airwave is providing free-to-use television and radio in multi-bedded and single room spaces via especially high (1,300 mm) ceiling voids at the new Hope Building wing at Salford Royal Hospital.

Nittan, a manufacturer of fire detection products, has seen the first UK installation of its new EV-PS analogue addressable photoelectric smoke sensor with built-in sounder, at a new medical centre, the Cranleigh Gardens Medical Centre, in Bridgwater, Somerset.

Sudanese twins born joined at the head have been given life-saving surgery by a team of British doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital, with it taking the surgeons four procedures over three months to successfully separate them.

ANS Group has won a major contract with Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust to “virtualise” the Trust’s IT estate using its Infrastructure 3.0 network architecture.

Dor-O-Matic automatic doors, from Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, have been installed during a comprehensive refurbishment at the South Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields.

Martek has manufactured and installed hard-wearing, stylish bespoke fixed furniture for the new 512-bed Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury, the UK’s first large acute hospital offering 100% single room, en suite accommodation.

Howorth Air Technology has won the service and validation contract with Spire Healthcare for the second year running.