‘50 years and rising’, and no plans to stop innovating

There aren’t many people who can offer 20 years’ insight into washrooms in healthcare facilities, but when you have three in one business, that certainly is unusual. Yet, that is what Eoin McQuone, Commercial Business director, Stephanie Lee, Commercial Product manager, and Matt Whiting, UK Service manager, at washroom control specialist, Rada, all have. Together, they have over 50 years’ experience and knowledge. HEJ talked to the three professionals to hear their views on some of the highlights of the last five decades, and the future of showering and washrooms in healthcare.

Today’s health service in the UK is in many ways unrecognisable to the health service at the advent of the millennium. Nearly two decades ago, the health service was seeing massive reform in the shape of ‘NHS 2000’, a plan introduced by the then Labour government to boost funding in health provision. It led to investment in new hospitals and estates, and created the more modern spaces that characterise many healthcare premises today. It was at about this time that Matt Whiting, Stephanie Lee, and Eoin McQuone all joined Rada. Long service is not unusual at Rada, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of water controls for commercial markets. Many people have been with the business for more than 10 years, but with a combined 50 years (and rising), Eoin McQuone, Matt Whiting, and Stephanie Lee stand apart for their longer service.

Eoin McQuone puts the number of staff with long-term service at the company down to ‘the opportunities and innovation in the business’. Remarking on his own development with the company, he explains that he first joined Rada as product manager to work on digital products. He has then held roles as Marketing manager, before moving up to Marketing director, and is now Commercial Business director.