FEATURE ARTICLES
Cladding in the spotlight in wake of major London fire
Last June’s Grenfell Tower fire will sadly be remembered for many years. Speaking in a timely address at October’s Healthcare Estates 2017 conference, Phil Gibbs, Healthcare Partnerships officer at London Fire Brigade, took a broad-ranging look at ‘Cladding on hospital premises’.
Minister pledges to ‘support sector from the centre’
Institute members, Past-Presidents, Committee members, Company Affiliates, and healthcare estates and facilities personnel from across the UK, were among attendees at an IHEEM seminar, awards ceremony, and President’s Address in London on 30 November.
Seminar event celebrates innovation and heritage
As part of a special IHEEM event held in Westminster late last year, IHEEM’s President updated guests on progress with the five ‘key themes’ he had set out for his Presidency on taking up the role the previous October.
Training essential for compliance and safety
An independent consultant, Authorising Engineer in ventilation/water and pressure systems, and Eastwood Park trainer, discusses the importance of HVAC systems in healthcare facilities, and equally, the need for good training on such plant for healthcare engineering and healthcare estates management personnel.
Boosting waste segregation in healthcare facilities
The WHO has identified failure of waste management as a serious issue for healthcare facilities to tackle. James Lee, managing director of clinical and healthcare waste sack supplier, Cromwell Polythene, looks at what can be done to tackle this.
Proven efficacy of silver impregnated showerhead
Tom Makin BSc Hons, MWMSoc, discusses a pilot study at a large teaching hospital comparing the efficacy of the Medi-Shower silver impregnated showerhead and hose with fixed and adjustable showerheads in a healthcare environment.
Advantages of VHP biocides described
A look – by a business development manager at Howorth Air Technology – at how the advent of vapourising hydrogen peroxide as a high efficacy biocide over the past 30 years has ‘simplified and de-risked bioburden reduction’.
‘Cutting edge’ medicine in heritage buildings
The Harley Street Medical Area in London is home to some of the world’s most ‘cutting edge’ medical facilities, yet it is a place restricted by, but blessed with, historical architecture and listed buildings. Simon Baynham, property director at The Howard de Walden Estate, which looks after the area, explains the unique challenges involved in deploying modern medicine in a heritage environment.
Keynote highlights a ‘timely platform for change’
Giving the opening keynote on the first day of last month’s Healthcare Estates 2017 conference, Simon Corben, director and head of Profession, NHS Estates and Facilities Efficiency & Productivity Division at NHS Improvement, outlined some of the key challenges and milestones for he and his team during his first six months in the role.
Turnkey solution for orthopaedic centre
‘Having started with an empty shell’, the team at Fortius Group developed the design of a new orthopaedic surgical centre in London’s Marylebone.
More work is required to teach cleaning techniques
The editor of HEJ’s sister publication, The Clinical Services Journal, discusses developing thinking on what constitutes the most effective healthcare cleaning practice.
Bringing data together in accessible form
A nurse call system specialist has developed a software product extension to enable easy viewing of the wealth of data generated in a ‘clean and accessible’ form.
Protecting water tanks from bacterial growth
A specialist in refurbishing and protecting water tanks discusses how they can be effectively protected rather than replaced.
Washbasin siphons’positive impact shown in study
A German hospital study examined the impact of aerosolreducing hygienic siphons in controlling a 4MRGN Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak on a ‘neuro’ rehabilitation ward.
‘Smart’ luminaires’ futureproofing abilities
Grant Feast, business development manager (Campus) at LED specialist, Schréder, discusses best practice for LED lighting regeneration, ‘connected infrastructure’, and the potential offered by ‘smarter’ facilities.
Latest guidance reflects continuing prion concerns
The background to the DH’s 2016 updating of its guidance for surgical instruments, HTM 01-01.
Former paper records area transformed
A space vacated following a Trust’s move from paper to electronic records has been successfully converted to a new endoscopy and decontamination department.
How ‘hospitality design’ is transforming healthcare
Designers of healthcare facilities now have the opportunity to be more creative, taking inspiration from the retail and hospitality sectors.
Impact of effective BEMS control strategy examined
The assistant estates director at a Dublin hospital discusses the extent to which hospital BEMS systems can increase efficiency and minimise energy consumption.
Combining copper with effective hygiene
How antimicrobial copper surfaces can assist with hospital infection control and support the fight against nosocomial infection.
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The architecture and planning of a hospital is of crucial long-term importance to functionality and successful patient care. It forms the basis for optimal hospital processes and, in turn, minimises the workload of hospital personnel. We have been supporting workplace design in the field of acute care for over 50 years. With our expertise in...