Greater openness and better data to aid research

In February’s HEJ we reported on the first half of an IHEEM roundtable held in London last November which focused on how working links between the Institute and the wider healthcare estates management/ healthcare engineering sector on the one hand, and academia working in associated fields on the other, can be strengthened, to enhance knowledge-sharing, and benefit both ‘sides’. Here, HEJ editor, Jonathan Baillie, who chaired the debate, reports on the discussions’ second ‘half’ – during which topics covered ranged from the need for accurate data to base research on, to some of the current practical obstacles for both academics and healthcare engineering/estates management personnel seeking to work more closely together.

The participants in the roundtable discussion – which took place at the Institution of Structural Engineers on 14 November – were: 

Having immediately previously (as reported at the end of the report in February’s HEJ on the roundtable’s first ‘half’) discussed some of the things that can make it difficult for university researchers working in built environment disciplines to secure access to hospital buildings for their research, and touched on the ‘knowledge gaps’ – even in healthcare engineering ‘basics’ – among some graduates, I next asked the roundtable participants whether they felt there was scope for greater academic involvement in events such as Healthcare Estates – in terms, for example, of more speakers from academia?