RECENT NEWS

An Engineering Council UK (ECUK) conference at The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology in Coleman Street in London on 14 October,

The NHS must play a strong role in both carbon reduction and climate change resilience over the next two decades, says a new 40-page report, Fit for the Future, co-produced by the NHS Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) and Forum for the Future and based on the latest scientific evidence on the potential impact of climate change on the UK as a whole, and on healthcare provision in particular, over the next 20 years.

IHEEM is pleased to announce that it has increased its presence in the virtual world. Membership officer Charlotte Fletcher said: “Members can now join our group on LinkedIn, become a fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

In July IHEEM’s International Committee welcomed three members of the Norwegian Forum for Sykehus Tekniske Ledelse (NFSTL), the country’s equivalent to IHEEM and an IFHE member organisation, who visited the Institute’s Portsmouth’s offices to meet the head office team and other key personnel.

The Institute is staging three one-day seminars on managing medical gas systems within healthcare premises over the next two months. Being held in London on 13 October, Birmingham on 17 November, and Newcastle on 24 November, these will cover topics including:

IHEEM members will soon be able to buy specially-produced Institute ties and scarves. Earlier this year, following a request in Health Estate Journal, members were asked to give their opinion on a range of designs for a new tie for gentlemen and scarf for lady members (HEJ – March 2009).

Her role will centre on the planning and logistics of the 2009 Healthcares Estates Conference this month. A former rugby player and still avid supporter, she enjoys travelling, and can also be found cycling, walking, or relaxing on her allotment.

Paul Kingsmore, director of Health Facilities Scotland (HFS), and IHEEM’s president-elect, will open the 2009 Scottish Healthcare Conference, which opens on 12 November at the Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire.

IHEEM says delegate attendance numbers are at “a record high” both for the conference and associated dinner at this year’s Healthcare Estates event, which opens on 27 October in Harrogate, and will also feature the largest exhibition in the show’s history.

Trumpf Medical has re-located its UK head office from Malmesbury to Luton, simultaneously opening an impressive new showroom. Part of a German multinational engineering group, Trumpf Medical’s products include operating tables, ceiling-mounted equipment management systems, and surgical lights.

London Health 09 is now open for registration and the agenda is complete. Visit the website to see a full list of speakers including Ruth Carnell, Cynthia Bower, Leo Boland and Pam Chester.

Kent Health Protection Unit (HPU), part of the Health Protection Agency, last month announced it was leading an investigation into five confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in East Kent.

HLM Architects’ design, in association with Hall Black Douglas, for the new South Wing at Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Londonderry, was highly commended for the International Healthcare Project Award under 40,000 m2 at the recent Design & Health International Academy Awards in Singapore.

BAM Construct UK has won six gold medals from the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme (CCS) – more than any other major contractor, following its announcement in April of a record turnover for the year ended 31 December 2008 of £1.75 billion.

Interserve Project Services has awarded a £2.8 million contract, under Welsh Health Estates’ Designed for Life: Building for Wales framework programme, to Yorkon, to build and fit out off-site a three-storey outpatient decant facility for the University Hospital of Llandough in Cardiff.

One of the south’s leading building services engineering consultancies has a fresh face at the top.

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust has selected a partner for the £100 m redevelopment of West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven (above – an artist’s impression of the new hospital interior), a project it says will significantly boost the local economy and help regenerate West Cumbria.

The recently opened £4.5 million Health Design and Technology Institute (HDTI) building at Coventry University features both interesting architectural features and an environmentally sustainable design.

Local Partnerships, the body established to support and improve public services and infrastructure at community level, has formally come into operation.

Nelson Mandela launched the Sheppard Robson and John Cooper Architecture (JCA) competition-winning design for a new specialist children’s hospital in Johannesburg on 31 July.