RECENT NEWS

Workplace services provider the PHS Group has launched a new company, formed from the merger of two specialists in safety, Epsilon Test Services, and CLM Compliance, to offer “a multi-disciplinary service that delivers complete legislative compliance”.

KM Cleaning Services has won a threeyear contract with Quintiles – reportedly the only fully integrated bio and pharmaceutical services provider offering clinical, commercial, and capital solutions..

Radiology has witnessed a “technological evolution” in the past few decades, with the growth of digital radiology (DR) in particular fuelled by the clinical value of PACS systems.

A cutting edge cystic fibrosis (CF) centre being constructed at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital will feature antimicrobial copper door furniture throughout in a bid to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections in particularly vulnerable patients.

Energy saving specialist Marshall Tufflex Energy Management (MTEM) has announced “an important new appointment “to its management team.

A new link bridge, designed by HLM Architects for NHS Kensington and Chelsea as part of the £15 million redevelopment of the East Pavilion at the St Charles’ Centre for Health and Wellbeing, a Grade II-listed former Victorian hospital in West London, has been completed.

It is a matter of public record which publicly-funded bodies have complied with the Energy Performance in Buildings Regulations by having a current Display Energy Certificate (DEC) on display.

Law firm Hempsons has completed what it dubs “a novel corporate transaction” – claimed to be England’s first of its type – for NHS Hull, involving the transfer of the healthcare body’s entire provider arm to City Health Care Partnership CIC (CHCP), a social enterprise formed as a community interest company limited by shares.

Modular building specialist Portakabin has completed its first project in “a pioneering new partnership” with renal care services provider Diaverum. The new, hired, satellite unit, recently opened at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust’s Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, allows kidney disease patients to benefit from care closer to home.

The British Parking Association (BPA) has affirmed its support for “fair and transparent” management of hospital parking following the publication of a recent Which? report on the issue.

IHEEM’s new President Paul Kingsmore (pictured, seated left, with branch chairman Nigel Keary and committee members) opened the 10th Bi-annual Conference of the Institute’s Northern Ireland Branch at Bangor’s Marine Court Hotel recently – a successful event attended by an audience of over 200.

Dr Manju Patel, chair of IHEEM’s Business Development Committee, and acute sector planning lead at NHS Grampian, is one of four co-authors of a book recently published by Wiley-Blackwell that examines the part governance and knowledge management can play in improving the performance of PFI/PPP projects.

A good showing of delegates was present at Carrow Road, Norwich at the recent re-launch meeting of the IHEEM East Anglia Branch (HEJ – June 2010).

Fifteen members of the East Midlands branch, plus family and guests, recently visited the Royal Derby Hospital as a guest of IHEEM member Charles Harrison, general manager of Skanska Facilities Services, where they were treated to a short presentation on the £334 million, 1,159-bed facility’s seven-year construction, a visit to the hospital’s elevated helipad, and a tour of the main engineering services.

Aspiring directors and senior managers in the EFM field have the chance to evaluate themselves against a series of management competencies and identify their strengths and development needs at the next Development Centre Programme event, being held from 12-14 October at the University of Warwick, with a briefing day on 16 September in London.

IHEEM’s 15 June Council meeting, attended by 15 members, and presided over by President Paul Kingsmore, saw a major focus on the Council’s Modernisation Plan for the Institute.

IHEEM’s International Affairs Committee has put in a bid for the IFHE 2014 Congress, proposing that this 23rd such event be held in Manchester, writes IFHE representative Andy Wavell.

Host of this November’s 21st IFHE (International Federation of Hospital Engineering) Congress in Tokyo (taking place from 17-19 November at Tokyo Big Site, Ariake – HEJ, November 2009) the Healthcare Engineering Association of Japan (HEAJ) reports that registration forms for the event, which can now be downloaded from the Congress website (www.ifhe.info/), are now being accepted.

After a budget with “few surprises”, the organisers of this year’s Healthcare Estates conference and exhibition point out that the challenge for estates and facilities personnel – to develop “lean” healthcare facilities that offer a better quality of service, are fit-for-purpose, efficient, and cost-effective – remains precisely the same. Being held at new venue Manchester Central, Healthcare Estates 2010 takes

GPs and their practice teams, working in consortia, will be handed substantial responsibility for commissioning, while a new “independent and accountable” NHS Commissioning Board will “lead on the achievement of health outcomes, allocate and account for NHS resources, and lead on quality improvement and promoting patient involvement and choice”, a new White Paper proposes.