Rewarding excellence and commitment

Recognition of public contribution to healthcare engineering and estate management, and excellence in achievement, are at the heart of the Institute’s work. IHEEM has a number of outstanding engineers, estate managers, and others in related disciplines, whose achievements in professional healthcare practice have an impact on a regional and national scale. Awards and prizes given by IHEEM seek to recognise those achievements by honouring the individuals concerned and promoting broader public appreciation. The president encourages all members to ensure that their fellow members, who may merit recognition, can be nominated or encouraged to apply for the IHEEM awards, medals and prizes, as appropriate. IHEEM’s Council has now approved Bill Millar’s recent work in revising the awards documentation, and its committees are considering the annual programme of work so that the awards, medal, and prizes, can feature more strongly in the IHEEM events calendar, built around presentation at the annual Healthcare Estates conference. For further information or to obtain a nomination form for any of the awards visit the IHEEM website at www.iheem.org.uk or contact the IHEEM head office. Tel: 023 9282 3186. Details of the IHEEM awards are as follows:

The IHEEM John Bolton Memorial Award for Excellence in the Field of Education and Training
The John Bolton Memorial Award commemorates the life of John Bolton, president of the Institute from 1985 to 1986. John Bolton spent the majority of his career in the National Health Service. He was chief engineer with United Liverpool Hospital, then deputy regional engineer with the Leeds Regional Hospital Board, and from there moved to become regional engineer with the East Anglian Regional Hospital Board. Following a reorganisation he was further promoted to the new post of chief works officer with overall responsibility for works and estate management. His connection with the Institute was long-standing. He was a regular attendee at the annual conferences, and guest speaker at the annual dinner. He encouraged the involvement of his technical expert colleagues to attend the Institute’s one-day seminars, and often participated himself. He was made a Companion of the most Honourable Order of the Bath in the New Year’s Honours List in 1985. Criteria and nomination process The award is open to members of the Institute, but in special circumstances may be made to a non-member. It is presented annually to a member that has excelled in the field of education and training. The award committee shall be the Education Committee, which will inform the Council of the award winner. The award, consisting of an inscribed gift, shall be presented at the annual conference and reported in the Institute journal. Nominations are invited throughout the year. The eligibility criteria are:
- A member who has excelled in education and training through their own personal development. This may include exemplary CPD, gaining a degree or MBA, or achieving a status with the Engineering Council.
- A member who, it is felt, has contributed greatly to the education and training of others. This may include becoming a mentor, speaking at a number of seminars and training events, or assisting with, or setting up, a training scheme or educational programme.

The IHEEM Lucas Scholarship Award for Significant Contribution to Branch Activities
The Lucas Scholarship was created in the mid-1980s in recognition of Bernard Lucas’s efforts for the Institute, and to encourage up to two young Institute members to participate in events such as the annual conference at no cost to themselves. Dr B.G.B. Lucas was president of IHEEM (the Institute of Hospital Engineering, as it was known previously) from 1973 to 1975. As an apprentice, Bernard Lucas helped build the Schneider Trophy Seaplane S6B. As a result of the Depression he left aeronautics and studied to become a doctor. On qualifying he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve and worked on high altitude research projects. After demobilisation Dr Lucas worked at a variety of hospitals; his main projects involved chest and heart surgery. Criteria and nomination process Nominations will be accepted from branch officers for new members who have been seen to take an active interest in the Institute, or established members who have played a significant part in its activities at branch or national level. This may include new members who have volunteered to sit on branch and national committees or working groups, who have submitted an article to Health Estate Journal, or spoken at an IHEEM event. The award shall be made to two members, to whom the Institute will award funding to attend the annual conference. The award committee shall be the Membership Committee, which will inform the Council of the award winner. The eligibility criteria are:
- Members who have, ideally, been members of the Institute for two years or less. In exceptional circumstances applications will be considered from established members.
- Nominations will be invited from branches for new members who have been seen to take an active interest in the Institute, or from established members who have played a significant part in the Institute’s activities at branch or national level. This may include new members who have volunteered to sit on branch and national committees or working groups, who have submitted an article to HEJ, or spoken at an IHEEM event.