A tight schedule for installing touchscreen control panels, PACS viewers, and LED surgical lighting, in four operating theatres at London’s Whittington Hospital proved no obstacle for Bender UK, which successfully completed the challenging nine-day programme for installation and commissioning, including creating bespoke mounting and access arrangements for the control panels.
Bender UK initially upgraded lighting and control facilities in operating theatres 1 and 2, and subsequently completed the hospital’s other four theatres, using STS Electrical to install the panels and additional cabling. The project was managed through FES FM, which provides facilities management to Whittington Hospital.
Each theatre in the final part of the upgrade is equipped with Steris LED lighting controlled by Bender’s hygienic touchscreen control panels. The upgrade also included replacing Xray viewers with 42 inch PACS screens linked to the hospital’s IT network. Bender created a bespoke installation of the touchscreen panels to integrate with existing stainless steel surfaces within the theatres. The project used existing back boxes to provide rear service access and minimise disruption, while future service requirements can be met without compromising hygiene in the theatres.
Bender-manufactured hygienic touchscreen surgeon’s control panels incorporate ‘a unique wipe-clean antimicrobial silver nitrate coating for maximum sterility’. Nigel Calverley, FES FM’s contract manager, commented: “The installation team demonstrated outstanding commitment to work around the dayto-day running of the hospital while carrying out their own tasks.”
