RECENT NEWS

Specialist medical lighting manufacturer Brandon Medical is claiming two “world firsts” with the introduction of operating theatre lights that combat MRSA and other “superbugs” and a telemedicam video system that can be built into theatre lights or used as a standalone facility.

Research by the Engineering Council UK has revealed that 30% of employers surveyed found it difficult to verify the CVs of applicants for engineering and technical posts.

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.

The Institute has significantly enhanced its website: www.iheem.org.uk

The Rt Hon Jane Kennedy MP, Minister of State for Delivery and Quality at the Department of Health, has accepted an invitation to give the keynote address at this year’s Healthcare Estates conference in Harrogate.

Thermal Transfer, a subsidiary of Scottish and Southern Energy, is holding a free one day seminar on Tuesday 28 March 2006 at the Thackray Medical Museum, adjacent to St James’s Hospital in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Howorth Airtech has announced the completion of its first turnkey project with The London Clinic – the design and construction of a cutting-edge operating theatre, purpose-built to accommodate robotic surgery.

While renewing and refurbishing its coal fired Energy Centre, Doncaster Royal Infirmary has installed three prefabricated and temporary burner/boiler units to maintain the hospital’s supply of heat and steam during the re-build programme.

Health PFI specialist Ryhurst in partnership with Barclays Capital, has recently completed and handed over state-of-the-art facilities at Blackberry Hill Hospital in Bristol to the Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. The handover follows the completion of the first of 14 facilities on six sites, forming a £64.5 million PFI project known as the Avon Project, the UK’s largest mental health PFI to date.

Sheppard Robson’s exemplar design for a new £75 million surgical centre for Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust has received outline planning consent. The design will act as the Public Sector Comparator and will form the basis of the tender invitation documents for the PFI procurement process.

The new Sheppard Robson designed landmark Birmingham Treatment Centre, which was officially opened at the end of 2005, incorporates a new approach to hospital design and assists in the regeneration and improvement of the surrounding urban environment. The new facility is said to represent a step change in the provision of treatment centres.

Contractor Osborne is overseeing the construction of a new radiation unit at the Mount Vernon Cancer Treatment Centre in Northwood, Middlesex (as first reported in HEJ Aug 05, p13). The company’s involvement has greatly developed since its original contract began with the NHS Trust. While carrying out the enabling works package, it was invited to tender for the foundations, which were later awarded. This then led to Osborne managing the installation of the new pods, cladding and procurement of the roof structure.

Edenbrook, one of the UK’s fastest growing independent technology companies, has announced the signing of a two year contract with BUPA worth over £5 million to develop new systems to support its membership business.

IHEEM member Steve Shutler has formed part of a team which has purchased licensed asbestos contracting company Burton Environmental Services (BES). The other two new owners are existing directors Martin Drury and Ron Cowen.

The Concrete Society has further strengthened its position by completing the acquisition of information and library service Concrete Information Limited (CIL).

Building Design Partnership was voted “Health Building Architect of the Year” in the 2005 Architect of the Year Awards held in London last November. The awards scheme aims to identify the most outstanding architects across a range of different types of design work, and the awards in eleven categories were presented to the firms that are delivering the best and most consistent work.

Specialist healthcare and education firm of architects, Nightingale Associates has moved its London office from Hatton Street into newly refurbished offices in Newman Street, W1. The move allows a consolidation of several tribal businesses under one roof while providing the London team with more space and an improved working environment.

Rickmansworth-based regional contracting company Kier Southern has secured further work at Ealing Hospital in West London, where it is currently building a new cardiac catheter laboratory. The latest award, creating the hospital’s first MRI scanner suite, is valued at £2.5 million and brings the total value of work on site to over £4 million. Both contracts have been awarded to Kier Southern as an approved contractor under the NHS Estates ProCure21 framework agreement.

With proposals to change the delivery of health services across County Durham and Tees Valley and parts of North Yorkshire likely to impact on how some hospital patients, visitors and staff travel, the NHS Joint PCT Committee has appointed JMP Consulting to provide transport advice.

Baxter Healthcare has announced a further investment of £550,000 to the recently opened new pharmacy unit at the Christie Hospital to ensure the future provision of chemotherapy and other essential drug therapies for patients in the North West is met.