FEATURE ARTICLES

Dr Tim Sandle, discusses why the most up-to-date standards, known as European Norms (EN), should always be considered when selecting cleaning and disinfection products for use in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

David Cross, head of the Technical Training Academy at Rentokil Pest Control, and Paul Casson, Technical field manager at Rentokil Specialist Hygiene, look at some of the pest control challenges facing healthcare estates teams, and how to meet them.

Antibacterial hoses incorporating a silver-based bacteriostatic additive were shown to significantly outperform additive free control hoses in reducing mean aerobic bacterial counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa after 8-12 weeks.

Last summer The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, became the world’s first healthcare organisation to declare a Climate Emergency.

As the coronavirus spreads, so our understanding grows that those providing health services must be protected from contracting the virus at their places of work – a pharmacy being no exception.

A simple guide to help choose the best communication devices for clinicians.

A look at how the physical healthcare environment can continue to provide a safe, fit-for-purpose setting for high quality care as services start to be recommissioned, and planned care recommences, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

‘The most pertinent and repeated’ question the company has received in recent days is ‘How should we manage clinical waste in relation to COVID-19 crisis?’ Here he explains how such waste can be safely and responsively disposed of.

Discussion on a recent research initiative at the hospital – on the most effective ways to remove protein residue from surgical instruments – acknowledged as a considerable challenge using current, established methods.

The Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering reports on the encouraging and committed response from engineers to a call for engineers ‘to help identify solutions, organisations, and contacts’ that could support the response to COVID-19

A Director at Anglia Ruskin University argues that while NHS personnel have undertaken tremendous work during the coronavirus outbreak, a re-think is needed on making healthcare facilities more resilient to events such as pandemics.

Recently, handwashing has taken on a significant role to prevent the spread of pathogens and maintain the nation’s collective health.

With the COVID-19 outbreak, associated steps to ensure patient, staff, and visitor safety, are currently likely to be uppermost in the minds of healthcare estates teams.

With the UK currently not ‘on track’ to achieve the fourth or fifth carbon reduction targets introduced under the Climate Change Act, Stephen Lowndes, Technical director at the Carbon & Energy Fund discusses.

Paul Musgrove, UK Development manager at shower and washroom solution specialist, Conti+ UK, explains how the company is playing its part with a new range of ‘disinfection solutions’.

Static Systems Group, explains how – working with contractor, Skanska, TB+A, and a number of other suppliers – the company masterminded the ‘bespoke’ design, supply, and installation of a complex and comprehensive fire and alarm management system.

Michael Joubert, takes a look – based on his many years’ experience in the field – at the priorities and requirements when undertaking fixed wire testing and reporting, and at some of the pitfalls if best practice is not followed.

Laura Smith, explains the legal and regulatory requirements that are involved in setting up emergency hospitals.

Martyn Barlow, Estates and Engineering manager at the Falkland Islands Government’s King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH), describes some of the particular challenges for he and his team with the outbreak of the COVID 19 epidemic

How do you build a 650-bed hospital in two weeks? Garry Bowker, Regional director of Integrated Health Projects (IHP) and VINCI Construction UK, tells the ‘behind-the-scenes’ story of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West in Manchester.