A Continuing Professional Development short course on Specialised Ventilation in Healthcare Premises (SVHP) is scheduled to take place from 18 to 20 July 2006. The course is organised by the University of Leeds and this will be the fifth time it has been run.
Malcolm Thomas, course director, said: “Hospitals are not hotels with operating theatres stuck on the side. While comfort is important, healthcare has different imperatives. Infection control, containing casual spillages of anaesthetic gas, odour control and the containment of hazardous organisms and substances are challenges that make healthcare ventilation special.”
The course will be held at the Weetwood Hall conference centre in Leeds. The ventilation of operating departments, maternity delivery rooms, pharmacy, pathology and mortuaries are just some of the topics covered and on the most recent course the latest thinking on the provision of isolation rooms was presented. Course work is reinforced with group workshop sessions and the practical demonstrations of the equipment used to validate installations. A small exhibition of relevant commercial items complements the teaching.
The speakers are experts in their fields. Malcolm Thomas was lead author of HTM 2025 Ventilation in Healthcare Premises and is currently undertaking work for the Department of Health on its rewrite as HTM 03. He is also technical author of HBN 4; Supplement 1 – Isolation facilities in an Acute Setting and initiated the ongoing research being undertaken at the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) laboratories in Bracknell.
Craig Mackintosh is a principal clinical scientist who worked with Owen Lidwell to produce the milestone report “Ventilation in Operating Suites” that is the foundation of all subsequent guidance. He is actively engaged in developing aspects of the guidance on UCV testing for the rewrite of HTM 2025.
Ian Fraser has recently retired as senior engineer at NHS Estates where he held lead responsibility for ventilation.
This core group are supported by a range of specialist speakers from across the health service.
To ensure that standards are maintained, the university asks that attendees sit an end of course examination.
Registrations are being taken for the course – further details are available from Julie Corbridge, CPD Unit, University of Leeds 0113 343 2494 e-mail: cpd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk
