FEATURE ARTICLES

Among the many challenges the NHS currently faces is an urgent need to cut its burgeoning energy costs and, in specialist building management system manufacturer Trend Control Systems’ words, its “massive carbon footprint”.

Jonathan Jones, European product manager at Tyco Thermal Controls, explains the economic and other benefits of using electrically trace-heated single pipe distribution, in place of the more “traditional” flow and return system, for hot water supply.

According to Professor Sanaz Litkouhi, Ph.D, an assistant professor of architecture at the Payam-Noor University of Tehran, the general lack of emphasis on providing suitable activity facilities in children’s hospitals affects both recovering child patients’ state of mind and the overall healing process.

A-Gas (UK), a leading UK independent blender and distributor of speciality gases and chemicals, says that many users of the highly versatile HCFC 22 (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) refrigerant gas, including hospitals, are still either unaware, or not taking action to address, this year’s ban on the use of both virgin R22, and other virgin HCFC refrigerant gases, in equipment such as air conditioning plant.

A “bed pod” featuring “modesty screens”, enhanced acoustics, multi-level light, and extra storage; quickly erectable washroom “pods” for improving patient convenience and ward layout with minimal disruption;

Jeremy Dodge, business manager at Marshall Tufflex Energy Management, explains how a voltage optimisation system that, in a claimed industry first, uses “auto-transformers” to reduce incoming mains electricity voltage so that electrical equipment receives precisely the “outgoing feed” it needs to function optimally and no more,

The goal the team behind Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s new £2.7 million Children’s Kidney Unit set itself was to create a comfortable and relaxing, but equally lively, colourful, and stimulating environment that would help “transform, into something more bearable, and even fun” the time spent in hospital by young patients undergoing haemodialysis and other renal treatments.

This year’s HefmA National Conference, being held at Harrogate’s Majestic Hotel from 27-28 May, is being organised by the Association’s Northern and Yorkshire branch and will, the organisers promise, give estates and facilities managers “the arena to discuss and debate how the NHS can survive, strive, and thrive, not only in the economic downturn, but also amid the bleak financial outlook for public spending over the next few years”.

Electrical safety testing of medical equipment is essential to ensure that the apparatus is safe for operators and patients alike. Rigel Medical’s John Backes looks at the latest tests used to assess the integrity of insulation in electrical appliances.

In a paper originally presented at last October’s Healthcare Estates conference in Harrogate, Bob Heavisides, director of facilities at the Milton Keynes NHS Foundation Trust, explains how estates and facilities directors can provide a package of information based on a number of “measures that matter” to demonstrate to their boards that safe systems of work, operational efficiency and effectiveness, and operational parameters, are within, or better than, equivalent-sized Trusts.

In a follow-up to last month’s “Fighting the waterborne menace” article (HEJ – March 2010), Dr Tom Makin, directorate manager, medical microbiology, at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust, and Martin Pride, new business development, at Kemper UK & Ireland, examine how Legionella has become a significant potential issue in hospital water systems, and discuss a novel, venturi-based engineering system co-developed by Kemper and a German university,

Sophie Eastwood considers how planners and designers of new healthcare facilities can apply valuable experience from other sectors, such as residential and commercial, both to speed project completion, and to create a more harmonious, non-institutional feel which both aids patient recovery, and provides an enhanced working environment for medical and clinical personnel.

Location of health facilities closer to the communities they serve, bringing together health and other services and, where possible, through technologies such as telehealth, enabling patients to undergo more treatment in their own homes, are already major talking points among those responsible for future estates planning.

Steve Hough, national sales manager, CEP Claddings, and Andrew Nicholls, sales director, CEP Ceilings, explain how modern cladding and ceiling materials can enhance the appearance of modern hospital buildings while offering practical, cost-saving, and environmental advantages.

Leaving the site in a better condition than when they left it, and minimising the development’s impact on the local scenery, reflecting the area’s history and natural heritage in the design, and exploiting the stunning location and views to provide a relaxing, therapeutic care environment, were among the goals for architects Nightingale Associates when they drew up plans for the Ysbyty Alltwen community hospital, spectacularly positioned high on the foothills of Snowdonia.

The Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), the charity devoted to improving the lives of teenager cancer sufferers, has released the initial results of an independent study which it says prove that a high quality built environment, of the calibre seen in its 13 existing UK teenage cancer units, not only boosts patient morale by giving sick youngsters a feeling of control, but also encourages young cancer sufferers to complete their treatment, significantly impacting the number of positive outcomes. Jonathan Baillie reports on the study’s London launch.

According to Digitron, hospitals countrywide are seeing the benefits of DigiTrak, the company’s automatic wireless temperature monitoring system.

A simulated hospital environment has been created at Trumpf’s new facilities in Luton with the aim of promoting a better understanding of environmental factors in improving patient recovery, as well as key considerations such as lighting and televised training in theatres. Louise Frampton reports.

As debate continues over the importance of incorporating automatic sprinkler systems into healthcare facilities, Andy Passingham, associate director at Arup Fire, considers how Arup, the multi-disciplinary engineers for two high profile new Welsh hospitals under construction in Ebbw Vale and Caerphilly, addressed fire safety on both projects.

According to water purification equipment suppliers, estates and facilities teams are now increasingly involved in specifying, purchasing, configuring, and maintaining the sophisticated equipment required to clean and disinfect endoscopes, and, more especially, the water purification equipment needed to ensure an effective “clean”.