RECENT NEWS

Hospital room designs make a significant difference to the likelihood of infection being spread through person-to-person contact between medics and patients, University of Leeds research reveals.

Copper bed rails have fewer contaminants, and remain clean longer, than plastic bed rails, according to a report by the Medical University of South Carolina.

GI Energy, which describes itself as ‘a sustainable energy company’, is extending its offering by launching GI Managed Services ‘to help customers get the best out of their carbon-friendly heating and cooling systems’.

Dr Jimmy Walker, Public Health England Water System microbiology and decontamination expert, George McCracken, head of Estates Risk and Environment at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Professor Hans Curt-Flemming, of the Biofilm Centre at the University of Duisburg Essen, and John Newbold, HM specialist inspector at the HSE, will be among the speakers at a two-day event in Winchester from 7-8 September focusing on water microbiology and water system safety.

GS1 UK, part of a global organisation that aims to ‘drive supply chain efficiency’ worldwide, has formed a Healthcare Advisory Board, with members ranging from NHS Trust CEOs to the chief executive of the NHS Supply Chain.

Trend Control Systems, the building energy management system (BEMS) specialist, has announced ‘the next generation’ of its room display (RD) and room sensor (RS) solutions.

A ‘fundamental change in the way care is provided care for millions of patients’, together with ‘investment in estates, IT, and innovation’, will be needed if the NHS is to ‘close the gap’ between demand and available resources, NHS Confederation CEO, Rob Webster (pictured), warned last month.

Work is due to start on the multimillion pound redevelopment of the main entrance and retail area of the Southampton General Hospital, thanks to an innovative deal conceived by the hospital’s Commercial Estates Development Partnership (CEDP) – a joint venture between UHS and Interserve Prime.

When Brent Council in Greater London sought to fit out an extra care home in Wembley with suitable flooring, the residents’ comfort and safety topped the specification criteria.

VINCI Park UK operates car parks at 12 NHS Trusts across England, Scotland and Wales, and aims to offer ‘bespoke solutions’ to each Trust.

In line with its determination to stay ‘at the forefront of medical technology’, BeaconMedæs has launched what is dubs ‘the next generation’ of medical gas terminal units.

Trumpf Medical has moved from the Luton base of the company that gave it its name to the headquarters of Hill-Rom, the group that will ‘shape its future’.

It became a Hill-Rom company in August 2014, and now the entire business has been transferred to Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire, where it will benefit from the group resources focussed on the medical technology market.

Nuffield Health has appointed Poole-based construction company, Stepnell, to carry out a £1.2 million refurbishment programme at the Nuffield Health Bournemouth Hospital.

In a deal expected to be worth over £1m in total, Sidhil, has won the first stage of a contract to equip six new hospitals currently being built in Ghana. Products selected for the new facilities include beds, mattresses, overbed tables, couches, screens, curtains, and ancillary products.

Global FM – an association for facilities management member organisations worldwide – has announced 10 June 2015 as the date for the 7th annual World FM Day – ‘a day of worldwide celebration of facilities management, where FM professionals, teams, companies, and representative bodies, highlight the important role of FM’.

The focus for 2015 is ‘Building Resilience for the Future’.

Architects, ADP, have secured planning permission for a new £2.8m Cancer Support and Information Centre funded by Macmillan Cancer Support for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, based at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

Wireless nurse call technology specialist, Aid Call, says its latest system, the Touchsafe Pro, is ‘the product of over 35 years of industryleading experience’, increased R&D investment, and ‘invaluable customer feedback’.

Schneider Electric has launched an ‘app’ designed to help organisations and businesses ‘better understand and manage reactive energy’ to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Eastwood Park is now taking bookings for the second year of its hospital engineering apprentice summer school, at its specialist training facility.

The future of Bradford-based Knightsbridge Furniture is ‘in safe hands’ following the announcement of a buy-out by managing director Alan Towns, and operations director, Peter Denham.