RECENT NEWS

Privacy and dignity enhanced by bespoke Kaba doors
Leading door manufacturer Kaba Door Systems has completed a series of unique automatic door installations for Colchester General Hospital. Kaba supplied and installed 19 sets of bespoke automatic single sliding door packages as part of the hospital’s programme of continuous improvement of patient dignity and privacy.
Responsible sourcing recognised
Sodexo was recently named as the first company nationwide to secure Red Tractor Corporate Member status, signifying that, having demonstrated a responsible sourcing policy across all its operations, it is now a “wholly accredited” organisation.
Basildon hospital’s hygiene improved
A recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) follow-up visit to Basildon University Hospital, found to have “unacceptable cleaning standards” during a CQC inspection last October (HEJ – January 2010), found hygiene standards were now being met.
Parking charges examined
An eight-week Department of Health consultation on hospital parking charges in England, the findings of which Health Secretary Andy Burnham said would be used to develop “a clear set of principles which balance fairness with the financial pressures that hospitals will be under in the coming period”, ends on 23 February.
CDA claims copper ‘world first’ at Irish hospital
The St Francis Private Hospital and its associated nursing home, St Clair’s, both in Mullingar in County Westmeath, have demonstrated their confidence in the anti-microbial properties of copper by specifying copper door handles for extensive use throughout both facilities in a bid to reduce hospital-acquired infections.
Howorth looks to the future
A management team consisting of Adrian Parkin and Jim Liptrot has purchased the Howorth Air Technology business from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The company name remains Howorth Air Technology Ltd, with the business now privately owned and funded.
CO2 targets ‘extraordinarily challenging’
A recently published report from international engineering consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff Powering the Future – mapping our low-carbon path to 2050, concludes that achieving an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 will be “feasible but extraordinarily challenging”.
JAOtech expands ‘European footprint’
Medical “smart terminal” specialist JAOtech has opened its European sales headquarters in the Netherlands, and appointed Bart Dolsma as European sales director with a brief to expand the company’s “already substantial footprint” in Europe.
Yorkon claims biggest off-site build
A new Bristol treatment centre handed over on time and budget to independent healthcare provider UK Specialist Hospitals (UKSH) by off-site construction specialist Yorkon is believed to be the UK’s largest complete hospital to be built off site to date.
Single-sex drive delivering
The NHS is “on track to virtually eliminate mixed-sex accommodation from hospitals across England”, Health Minister Ann Keen has announced following publication of a report by the NHS’s Delivering Same-Sex Accommodation Taskforce: “Delivering same-sex accommodation – the story so far”.
‘Complete’ carbon management service
With healthcare organisations facing new obligations under the Carbon Reduction Commitment, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, and a raft of other environmental legislation, strategic outsourcing and management company Mitie has launched what it claims is “the UK’s first all-encompassing fully integrated carbon management service”.
£45m London neuroscience research facility
Plans for a new £45 million neuroscience research facility for King’s College London (KCL)’s Denmark Hill campus in south-east London, designed by Devereux Architects and Allies and Morrison Architects (model pictured), have received planning approval.
Odyssey Bio proves all-round winner for nursing home re-fit
When the owners of an award-winning nursing home decided to upgrade the 37-bed property they found that Marshall-Tufflex’s Odyssey Bio Trunking Solutions provided the perfect answer for meeting the project’s cable management requirements and delivering a welcome infection control element.
Rapid response aids flood-hit community
Portakabin’s rapid-response team has installed an interim building for two Cockermouth GP surgeries, which serve 15,000 patients, after their buildings were destroyed in the recent Cumbria floods.
Minister’s call to build on progress
Environment Secretary Dan Norris (pictured) has called on the UK construction industry to “embrace the financial and environmental opportunities waste reduction can offer”.
Course on a sensitive issue
Durham University and “e-learning company” Marshall ACM have produced a 45-minute online course covering records management/ information security/data protection and Freedom of Information, which is available to any organisation “to help ensure responsible business continuity”.
New powers on trouble-makers
Authorised NHS staff can now call on anyone causing trouble or nuisance to leave NHS premises and, should they refuse, remove them, following the introduction of new powers under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act (CJIA) 2008.
Vanguard’s European expansion
Vanguard Healthcare, the supplier of mobile surgical services, has announced plans to offer its mobile healthcare solutions across Europe.
Doncaster plans approved
Doncaster Community Solutions has received full planning permission to build two new healthcare centres, jointly costing over £14 million, in the Dearne Valley and Doncaster town centre.
HCFC phase out ‘confusing’
Blender, re-packer and distributor of speciality gases and chemicals A-Gas says its latest research suggests that, although many health estate managers appear well prepared for the phase out of HCFCs and other ODP (ozone depletion potential) refrigerants, “there is still much confusion”.
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FEATURE ARTICLE

Mapping a world for the disabled
Agreeing to spend £88,000 to sign her Trust up to a new online guide that will provide information on disabled access provision for some individual 300 healthcare sites throughout the county was “an extremely easy decision”, NHS Suffolk chief executive Carole Taylor-Brown told a London audience recently.

PRODUCT ARTICLE

Bug-busting porter’s chair set for launch
Vernacare has appointed a UK manufacturing team to produce its new porter’s chair, created as part of the Department of Health and NHS PASA’s “Design Bugs Out” challenge (HEJ – June 2009).