RECENT NEWS

Construction work has begun on a new mental health unit in South Yorkshire which is set to become a showcase for “green” design in the NHS.

Mailbox has completed the supply and installation of HTM 71 high density materials management systems at the new children’s hospital and adult head and neck centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

Patrick Johnson, managing director of NHS Supply Chain, is set to speak at the Medilink Yorkshire and Humber Innovation Day and Healthcare Business Awards on 19 April.

Kingston Hospital NHS Trust will gain secure environmentally friendly energy supplies through a 15-year PFI agreement which will save around 4,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

The new John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, designed by architects RTKL, has been completed. The new hospital, situated on the existing site, approximately three miles north of Oxford City Centre, will provide a children’s hospital, a head and neck centre and a diagnostic block to relocate services from the Radcliffe Infirmary in the city centre.

Throughout its history, the Healthcare Estates Conference and Exhibition has addressed the current political, economic and practical challenges facing those involved in healthcare facilities management.

Atlas Copco compressors were on show and a key discussion topic when authorised distributor Tipton-based AQ Central co-hosted, with Midland Medical Services, a meeting of IHEEM’s Midlands Branch.

Published recently, HTM 07-01 replaces the Health Services Advisory Committee’s guidance document Safe disposal of clinical waste that was introduced in 1999.

A new report, supported by leading business and investor organisations, has set out 11 recommendations to address a paradox which threatens the future of the UK economy: why are there so few science, engineering and technology (SET) businesses generating wealth in the UK when London is a powerful capital market, and our science base is among the best in the world?.

New research from the ETB (Engineering and Technology Board) shows a 26% decrease in students taking engineering, manufacturing and technology in further education colleges over the last three academic years.

Deterred by the prospect of incurring further debt, many BEng (Hons) graduates choose not to continue their studies to Master’s level, claims the ECUK.

Members are asked to continue to assist the IFHE Secretariat with up to date contact information.

The 19th Congress of the International Federation of Hospital Engineering (IFHE) was held in Cape Town, South Africa, last May.

IFHE president Steve Drinkrow took part in a symposium on the Role of Healthcare Engineering in Providing Safe and Sustainable Health Service Environment in Nairobi, and in a subsequent workshop on Advanced Healthcare Technology Management in Mombasa.

IFHE submitted a report to WHO on 10 September 2006 reviewing its collaboration over the past three years.

Members of the executive committee have been involved with various projects to further the aims and objectives of IFHE, writes president Steve Drinkrow.

Sodexho has contracted DDC Dolphin to confirm HTM 2030 compliance for bedpan washer-disinfectors installed at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

The NHS Fife Operating Division is aiming to streamline its surveillance and case management of hospital-acquired infections by developing an interface between its Oasis EPR and ICNet. This will create the opportunity to track patients as they are transferred between wards as well as after discharge in the community

Drax (UK) installed a PEATplus unit into West Suffolk District General Hospital, which is being used as part of an evaluation of public surveys conducted within NHS premises. The PEATplus system is a console that, once patients or visitors have entered data, will collect and process this information to create reports.

Plans are underway to extend the cleanyour hands campaign from acute NHS hospitals to other care settings, such as primary care organisations, GP practices, community hospitals, nursing homes, care homes, ambulances, hospices, and dental surgeries.