Tenth HEFMA event to light up Blackpool

The North West HEFMA branch, organisers of the event in Blackpool, says that the conference’s 10th anniversary coincides with a decade of “continuous NHS reforms”, and, as a result, the branch has decided that ‘The search for sustainability’ will be the theme of HEFMA 2007. John Wilkes, chairman of the North West branch, said that alongside sustainability, the 2007 conference would address “how we continue both to improve the patient experience and deliver cost effective services.”

HEFMA 2007 contains a busy programme of lectures and debates, focusing on current issues facing NHS facilities managers, as well as reflecting on events of the past decade. The conference will have both plenary sessions and break-out groups to meet the needs of all delegates.

Visitors to the event will also have the opportunity to visit the product fair and participate in a range of networking and social events, including a gala dinner and an informal ice breaker event the evening before the event starts. A charity golf day is also being held on May 22.

In recognition of the 10th Annual Conference, the North West Branch will also be hosting a HEFMA National Awards ceremony centred on three main categories: Facilities Team of the Year, Facilities Manager of the Year and Project Manager of the Year.

Speaker update

HEFMA has confirmed that Brian James, chief executive of Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, is the latest senior NHS executive to join the speaker panel. He will be a familiar face to many visitors following his appearance alongside Gerry Robinson in the recent BBC television series “Can Gerry Robinson Fix the NHS?” Brian James has worked in the NHS for almost 30 years, holding positions in most management areas. Previously director of Health Service Strategy & Innovation for South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority, he took up his role at Rotherham in early 2005.

Brian James will appear on May 24 alongside David Peat, chief executive of East Lancashire NHS Primary Care Trust, in an executive Q&A panel looking at the changing face of healthcare commissioning and the impact for estates and facilities management services.

On the same day, the closing ministerial keynote on healthcare reform and sustainability will now be given by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE, Minister of Quality at the Department of Health. Lord Hunt has focused extensively on healthcare issues throughout his career, both inside and outside Parliament. He was the first chief executive of the NHS Confederation and director of the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts (NAHAT) on its formation in 1990. More recently, he chaired the National Patient Safety Agency.

Exhibition guide

The exhibition running alongside the conference is a sell out, with more than 60 companies attending. Exhibitors and sponsors include major multi-service providers and many specialist suppliers of catering, cleaning, construction and IT services, among others. A significant number of companies are exhibiting at HEFMA for the first time, providing delegates with fresh perspectives on the latest product and service offerings.

The following is a selection of companies exhibiting at HEFMA, featuring details of products and services on display and stand details.

NICEIC approved installations

Stand 56
The NICEIC Group will show visitors how its Roll of more than 20,000 Approved Contractors and Domestic Installers are properly assessed to the relevant British Standards and the importance of employing an NICEIC registered installer.

The company is more than 50 years old and provides Building Regulations Schemes, training courses and publications for many aspects of facilities management, including PAT Testing, Periodic Inspection and Health and Safety matters.

NQA, a brand of NICEIC Group

specialises in quality assurance and can provide information on environmental and health and safety management systems certified to international standards.

Crown Cuisine from Anglia

Stand 33
Anglia Crown supplies freshly prepared food to more than 100 hospitals, social services, care homes and schools throughout the UK.

The company aims to provide a range of fresh meal solutions which represent quality, flexibility and value. All meals are freshly prepared ‘in-house’ and developed wit a dietician.

In January this year Anglia Crown successfully trialled the new Crown Cuisine microwave meals range. This range, according to Anglia, offers a number of advantages and uses significantly less energy than conventional systems. The response from patients to the new meals was positive according to Anglia, with one response claiming: “The food is brilliant, amazing for a hospital – nice and healthy.”

Caffe Nuovo launched

Stand 26
United News first became involved in hospital retailing in 1991 and since then has grown to include news and convenience retail units at 70 hospitals throughout the UK. The company’s latest launch is Caffè Nuovo, a premium coffee shop brand offering freshly ground coffee and a range of hot beverages and sandwiches, salads and hot and cold snacks. Caffè Nuovo is distinctively branded and is operated and managed as a stand-alone unit.

Support services for healthcare

Stand 37
Lorne Stewart Plc was established more than 100 years ago. The company designs, installs, maintains and operates a range of services including energy management, water treatment and thermal imaging.

Strong NHS understanding and experience have contributed to the relationships with each of the clients in our contract portfolio.

The company offers conventional power, heating, lighting and air conditioning services, through to the construction and management of support facilities for hospitals or computer centers

Adding Komfort to hospital treatment

Outside exhibit
Komfort’s new Surface Mounted Bed Head is a compliant element that has all services integrated and assembled into one steel unit. It is flush, easy to clean with no potential ledges for dust traps, the manufacturer claims. The unit can easily be taken down and repositioned. If required additional services may be added or existing components up-graded at a future time. The bed head is both strong and durable and is resistant to numerous chemicals, Komfort says.

Expansion enabling decking

Stand 52
Fast Park, manufactured by Italy-based Fast Park Sistema, is a patented modular system, designed to double the parking capacity of existing areas using a freestanding deck. This proven solution

has now been installed in thousands of modules for hospitals, international airports, railway stations, local authorities and in retail and leisure centres, across Europe and the U.K. Pictured is a recently installed module at Stockport Hospital.

Sluicemaster addresses environmental issues

Stand 20
Haigh Engineering’s new Sluicemaster Panaway is a compact bedpan disposer which addresses environmental concerns and promises energy savings.

During the disposal cycle where up to four pulp product bedpans are broken up and disposed of, only 16 litres of cold water are used against the industry average of 25-30 litres. Electrical rating is again low with only 590W used.

On the average 30 bed ward, savings per year of around 280kw of electricity and 80,000 litres of water can be made, the manufacturer claims. This helps to meet local authority energy saving targets and the NHS Directive on mandatory energy/carbon efficiency targets.

24 hour maintenance service

Stand 9
First in Service Ltd have been providing reactive service and planned service and maintenance to both the public sector and business and industry for more than 40 years. The company, which employs around 90 engineers at strategic locations around the UK, offers 24/7 service heating, air conditioning, ventilation, catering, coffee & refrigeration equipment, electrical testing and service and building services.

A full design and installation service is offered for HVAC works, including kitchen ventilation systems, critical and comfort cooling.

Specialist healthcare engineering

Stand 7
Mechanical & Electrical Consulting Engineers Steven A Hunt & Associates services the commercial sector throughout the UK.

The company’s core business deals with the development of new buildings on green field sites, focusing on the overall management and co-ordination of the complete services package from infrastructure procurement, the design of services, backed up with a full inspection process.

The company specialises in servicing the healthcare market.

Synchronised Solutions from Primex

Stand 28
Primex Wireless’ synchronised time and data system promises to eliminate the age old problem of unreliable clocks. Primex says that inaccuracy, even by a few seconds, can lead to a lack of organisational synchronisation, lower productivity and efficiency, and high maintenance costs.

The new system, Primex claims, provides precise time across all clocks and can offer significant maintenance costs.

Healthcheck for catering facilities

Stand 44
The Litmus Partnership is an independent catering and facilities management consultancy which specialises in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of such ‘soft’ services provision in the NHS Sector. The company’s partners possess the experience and tenacity to drive projects that generate significant economies whilst improving the quality of support services, whether they be contracted or in-house.

Safe wood-look flooring

Stand 43
On display on Altro’s stand will be the company’s new Timbersafe safety flooring range, a wood-look safety flooring with the assurance of slip resistance throughout its warranty period, providing a practical walking surface with an attractive, noninstitutional look.

Also at the show will be Altro’s range of hygienic interior wall solutions from in a variety of colours, including Altro Whiterock, a semi-rigid hygienic PVCu wall cladding with an easy to clean surface that is low maintenance and offers resistance to stains, chemical spillages and impact.

Precision moulding

Stand 17
Mailbox Mouldings International, the UK-based plastic manufacturer of more than 40 years, will show visitors to its stand products from its range including 90-3,000 litre capacity bio diesel containers, stacking boxes, pallets, trucks and trolleys. The company will also show its unique Concept to Production service, which uses the latest CAD and Pro Engineer software to illustrate the development of a new product.

Parking management

Stand 57
Liberty Services offer an enforcement package hospitals and Trusts managing their own parking policies. The Liberty system offers a full back office management service that can handle the issue of permits and the progression of civil penalty tickets. The service starts with a full site survey covering signs lines hardware and software required. The company will offer a full quotation and advice on a solution to increase Pay and Display and barrier parking. The Trust or hospital retains full control of the issuing of tickets by utilising its own security or estates staff as well as setting policies on appeal.

Support services for the NHS

Stand 10
ParkHill is an NHS-owned agency dedicated to serving the needs of the health sector. The company provides a comprehensive range of professional services to support NHS organisations across the UK.

Clients benefit from ParkHill’s ability to develop strong working relationships, in-depth knowledge of current issues and challenges shaping the NHS, and commitment to helping clients to meet their budgets and targets.

The company’s service portfolio also includes accredited conflict resolution training and health and safety management.

Closing curtains on HAI

Stand 38
The new Marlux UK Disposable Hospital Curtain System is radically changing the way that hospitals balance the problem of hygiene versus cost and time, the manufacturer says. The curtains can be changed regularly to improve infection control, as potentially contaminated materials are disposed of and replaced. Labels on the curtains allow hospital staff to see when a curtain was installed.

Pre-engineered premises

Stand 41
Medi-Cell was created in 2004 to meet the needs of Health Care clients for reduced construction time, and desire to minimise disruption to end users.

Visitors to the company’s stand will be able to watch a DVD of last year’s installation at Benenden Hospital in Kent and receive information about Medi-Cell’s range of system built modular buildings.

IHEEM/Health Estate Journal

Stand TBC
The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management and Health Estate Journal will be sharing a stand at the event. Visitors to the stand will be able to receive membership and event details from IHEEM and meet the Health Estate Journal team to discuss editorial and advertising opportunities.

HEFMA 2007 schedule
CONFERENCE DAY ONE:

Wednesday 23 May 2007

08:00 Registration desk and exhibition open, coffee served.

10:00 Welcome address
•Bill Murray, president, Health Facilities Management Association.

Opening plenary session
Following a decade of almost continuous change within the NHS, the government has now laid ambitious plans for further reform, aimed at creating a patient-led national healthcare system.

The changes ahead include the devolution of commissioning power to Primary Care Trusts and GPs, as well as the creation of a more diverse provider base, where social enterprises, the voluntary and private sectors will work alongside an expanded network of Foundation Trusts.

In the opening morning, senior NHS and Department of Health executives will reflect on the past decade of change and discuss how healthcare reform and the sustainability agenda will shape the future of national health estates and facilities services.

10:10 Moderator’s opening remarks
•Frances Edmonds, broadcaster, writer and interpreter.

The HEFMA 2007 conference will be chaired by Frances Edmonds, a broadcaster, writer, TV and radio presenter, multilingual interpreter and speaker. Frances has combined a career as an interpreter for major international political and economic organizations such as the EU, OECD and G7 with authorship of a number of best-selling books. She has also hosted a number of TV and radio programmes and is an accomplished moderator and MC.

10:15 Keynote address 1: Healthcare reform – the service perspective.

10:40 Keynote address 2: Healthcare reform – the development agency perspective.
•Eric Hodgson, Health Development Advisor, North West Development Agency.

11:05 Q&A.

11:10 Networking coffee break and exhibition visits.

11:50 Future directions in the governance of the health estate.
•Rob Smith, Head of Gateway and Director of Estates and Facilities Management, Department of Health.

12.20 Q&A.

12:30 Buffet lunch and exhibition visit.

14:00 Focused breakout workshops.

The first part of the afternoon will be devoted to breakout workshops, providing delegates with detailed, practical discussion of specific issues.

Select one of:

A: Energy sustainability

Cutting carbon emissions as part of the fight against climate change is increasingly a key priority for publicly funded bodies like NHS Trusts. The Department of Health has already emphasised the need for action by setting a mandatory target for the NHS as a whole to reduce its carbon emissions by 0.15 million tonnes by 2010. As well as contributing to environmental sustainability, carbon management also represents a huge opportunity for the NHS to reduce its energy bill.

Drawing on real-life experience gained from its NHS Carbon Management programme, the Carbon Trust will review common obstacles facing NHS Trusts in improving energy management and discuss how good carbon management can be integrated into NHS infrastructure and day-to-day operations at all levels.

Workshop leader:
•Tom Cumberlege, public sector product manager, The Carbon Trust.

B: Workforce sustainability

The modernisation agenda places new demands on estates and facilities professionals charged with ensuring that the built environment is available and properly serviced to meet the needs of modern healthcare. A structured approach to the recruitment, training and welfare of staff is a critical component in fulfilling this demanding brief.

The NHS is the UK’s largest employer, but how are good is the service at building a workforce with the right motivation, knowledge and skills? In this practical workshop, one Trust shares how it has been approaching the challenge of creating a sustainable estates and facilities workforce.

Workshop leader:
•Kevin Oxley, executive director of Estates & Facilities, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and HEFMA National Chairman.

C: Transport, travel and access: Sustainability and the environment

The challenges are all too familiar: daily recurring congestion and parking overflow caused by the large number of patients, visitors and staff travelling to and from hospital sites throughout the day and night. For many facilities, the problems are further compounded by poor accessibility. Mobility management – a quest for a balanced combination of travel alternatives – is seen as an important way to get things moving again. This workshop will share experiences from OPTIMUM2, an Anglo-Dutch initiative aimed at developing a common approach to the accessibility problems affecting heavily frequented venues in urban areas.

Workshop leaders:
•Jan Brenninkmeijer, Consultant, OPTIMUM2
•Jackie Brindle, information systems manager, Lancashire County Council