RECENT NEWS

The universal Matador Multiplus patented, multifunctional next generation bench vice from Ridge Tool Company combines three functions in one tool: clamping, bending and straightening.

The latest medical catalogue from Luxo guides the user to the ideal light for a variety of applications including wards, corridors and examination rooms.

New Master Plus from Riello UPS are multi-mode uninterruptible power supplies specifically designed for data centres and telecoms installations implementing best practice business continuity and disaster recovery plans.

One of the UK’s leading water treatment providers is pioneering a solution for hospitals that prevents bacteria and viruses such as MRSA, Legionella or E.coli from entering their water distribution systems.

The Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) and Engineering Council UK (ECUK) recently reported a substantial increase in the number of newly registered chartered engineers (CEng), incorporated engineers (IEng) and engineering technicians (EngTech).

The introduction of the new Hazardous Waste Regulations in July last year, upgraded a number of waste products, such as fluorescent and sodium lamps, computer monitors and TVs, to hazardous waste.

Swanke Hayden Connell Architects (SHCA) has appointed two senior directors to its healthcare team to further strengthen its skills and resources. With their appointments, both Keith Cox and Keith Millay bring extensive knowledge and expertise in designing for the healthcare and research sectors.

When Raigmore Hospital in Inverness received funding from the NHS to modernise its pathology meeting room, it sought to replace the substandard projector that required the room lighting to be very low, leading to difficulties when reading patient notes. Another issue was that multiple images could not be projected and therefore different sources of patient related information could not be shown simultaneously.

EU Member States should invest more in innovative medical technology and diagnostics, as this will increase efficiency in healthcare and reduce the burden on society of disease and disability. Improving health should become an economic priority. These were the key messages delivered recently by Eucomed, the European medical technology industry association, and EDMA, the European in vitro diagnostics association, at their joint housewarming reception.

MTX Contracts has recently completed the installation of a new modular orthopaedic operating theatre suite for Leicester General Hospital. The new suite is a standalone facility covering an area of 376 m2, which was completed and operational within a period of just 16 weeks.

Developer Oakapple Primary Care has been granted planning permission to build the long awaited Kew health centre in Southport. A site for the new £1.5 million health centre, which will also incorporate a new dental surgery and other health services, has already been earmarked on Town Lane, close to Southport District Hospital.

Supplier of pre-owned modular buildings, Foremans Relocatable Building Systems has launched a standardised design for a cardiac angiography laboratory in response to the Government’s commitment to improving and expanding facilities for the treatment of heart disease.

Software developer for the public sector Asckey Data Services has won a five year contract from the Healthcare Facilities Consortium (HFC) to act as partner for the proven Eclipse-fm facilities management and helpdesk system, widely used in NHS Trust hospitals.

Draeger Medical UK has announced the first UK installation of its Infinity OneNet shared network and Infinity MegaCare ECH management solution at Southend Hospital in Essex.

One of Socomec Sicon’s 160 kVA Delphys Elite UPS systems has been installed in a state-of-the-art catheter laboratory at Cheltenham General Hospital to ensure total power continuity to its new Innova 2100 equipment.

A health centre in Belfast has been transformed following the completion of the final phase of a major construction and refurbishment programme. The Arches Centre features innovative use of Technal’s architectural aluminium systems including around 100 windows in large spans, different colour combinations and frame sizes.

Calyx, an NHScat IT approved supplier of voice and data solutions has implemented wireless technology in over 60 Gwent Healthcare hospital wards, where PC carts now enable the NHS Trust to deliver patient information at point of care.

New NHS health surgeries will become a more common sight in towns and cities across England under ambitious plans to open 125 more health centres by the end of this year.

Republished in this edition of Health Estate Journal is an article for which Paul Robbins, electro-medical services manager, technical support services, Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, has been awarded the Northcroft Silver Medal. The article is titled “Managing risk in device engineering” and was first published in the June 2005 edition of HEJ.

Efficient use of energy, care for the environment and working in a sustainable way are becoming increasingly important, and IHEEM is staging a series of seminars looking at these areas. Particular focus will be on sustainability issues.