RECENT NEWS

Dorset County Hospital installed a number of Dart Valley Systems [DVS] no-touch taps and WC flushvalves over a couple of years, and the positive experience lead to the hospital making a decision to remove all lever operated clinical hand wash taps and toilet handles and replace with no-touch operation.

The Trend BMS at Sweden’s Halmstad Hospital features every generation of IQ controller. It stands as testimony to the future-proof nature of Trend’s building control technology – and to its energy saving capabilities.

Know The Risks – Know Your Responsibilities

According to the Barrow Report published by the Health and Safety Executive in 2007, individuals working within a department, Facilities Managers, Building Managers and individuals with responsibility of water systems can be held accountable for failures to safeguard Health and Safety.

Medi Cell Solutions have just completed a new Theatre and ward at George Eliot Hospital Nuneaton in just 12 weeks.

Sheffield architect Race Cottam has secured a contract to deliver the first phase of an eight-year programme of improvements for Rotherham Hospital.

The Government currently lacks sufficient in-house engineering expertise to exploit fully the UK’s world-class engineering base.

The East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust has invested £100,000 in specialist hydrogen peroxide vaporisation equipment to use in a “general spring clean” and help combat a Clostridium difficile outbreak at its Eastbourne District General Hospital.

A new intensive care unit (ICU) at London’s St Mary’s Hospital incorporates, in a reported UK first, 16 customised Sony PCS-G50 videoconferencing units to enable 24/7 patient observation and monitoring, automated visitor management, and advanced videoconferencing between staff and consultants, operated from the patient’s bedside.

Focused FM provides software, information and management support services to healthcare professionals working in facilities, estates and related functions.

Julia Kemp and Chad Coombes from Topscan will be available on Stand 12 at the 2009 HEFMA event where delegates will be able to view examples of Topscan’s CAD, Surveying and Digitising Services to NHS Estates & Facilities Departments throughout the UK.

Parkhill is proud to be sponsoring the lunch session at Hefma on Thursday. We hope that you will take the opportunity to come and speak with a member of our team and to be entered into our prize draw for a luxury 4 person picnic hamper.

With the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) report commending “the majority of NHS trusts for improving infection control”, while urging Trusts to “remain vigilant and strive for further improvement”, training provider to the NHS Eastwood Park is to stage a one-day seminar, “Infection Control – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, on 9 June at its Falfield, Gloucestershire training centre.

Ten acute trusts, six primary care trusts, four mental health care trusts and one ambulance trust have had conditions imposed on them, based, in a number of cases, on their current failure to “achieve required standards for infection control”, as part of the first ever registration of NHS Trusts by new regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The British Institute of Facilities Management, which “provides information, education, training and networking services” for over 12,000 members – both individual professionals and organisations, has launched a new brand identity to reflect a change in its mission statement and “a renewed focus on progress”.

Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust CEO Glenn Douglas and senior representatives from PFI partner Laing O’Rourke and other companies involved in the construction attended a celebratory event on 3 April to mark the first year’s construction of the Pembury Hospital in Kent (HEJ – June 2008), set to be the UK’s first new large-scale acute hospital to feature 100% single-bed accommodation.

The Prince of Wales has officially opened the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s new Margaret Thatcher Infirmary, designed by Steffian Bradley Architects to bring “state-of-the-art facilities” to the Chelsea Pensioners.

First Minister of Scotland, the Rt. Hon Alex Salmond MSP, was guest of honour on 25 March at the topping out of the new PFI-funded Forth Valley Acute Hospital near Falkirk.

The Engineering Council UK (ECUK) has noticed “a marked increase” in the number of engineering professionals enquiring about registration for Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Engineering Technician (EngTech) status.

A new report produced as part of the White Rose Health Innovation Partnership programme by Dr Chris Herbert of Medipex – the NHS Innovation Hub for the Yorkshire and Humber region, should provide healthcare technology companies with “an essential overview” of the purchasing and supply procedure of the NHS and national procurement landscape.