FEATURE ARTICLES

As an increasing number of Trusts secure Foundation status, the importance of achieving excellence in estate management is further heightened. Report by Thomas Howard, a commercial property expert and member of the health team at law firm Browne Jacobson.

A report by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts has highlighted anxieties about the way in which information technology provision for the NHS is progressing. Health Estate Journal reports.

Infection prevention and control in hospitals is a constant battle. The issues have become ever more pressing in recent years with a constant stream of headlines about healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and the so-called ‘superbug’ MRSA. Intuition’s programme marketing manager Lee-Anne Smith explains how e-learning can help win the fight against infection.

In the annual NHS staff survey run by the Healthcare Commission, personnel report that they are less stressed, suffer fewer work-related injuries and see fewer potentially harmful errors, but the results also highlight the levels of violence and abuse that they endure.

The long-awaited report from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) into the Barrow Legionella outbreak has now been published and is in the public domain. Its conclusions and recommendations clearly recognise that the outbreak cannot, and should not, be attributed purely to one group or to the individuals working within one department. Moreover, the failings which contributed to the outbreak stretched from the lowest levels to the top of the council organisation. Develop Training’s Tony Green explains how correct training can prevent future outbreaks.

Hospital lighting must conform to a wide range of international standards. The purchaser of lights, ranging from bedside lamps to operating theatre units, is responsible for ensuring that a hospital’s luminaires comply with relevant legislation. James Verrinder reports.

This Health Estate Journal ‘Then and now’ feature describes thoughts from about 30 years ago concerning the potential polluting effects of anaesthetic gases and vapours in the operating theatre. The article appeared in the May 1976 edition of Hospital Engineering, having been previously published in the journal Anaesthesia. Hospital Engineering was the official journal of the Institute of Hospital Engineering (now IHEEM).

IHEEM has unveiled the initial conference programme for this year’s Healthcare Estates conference.

One of the most important materials in the modern healthcare environment, stainless steel is poised for an impressive future. Martin Tye, managing director of GEC Anderson – manufacturer of bespoke stainless steel solutions and a long-standing supplier to the health sector – looks at the outlook for stainless steel and offers advice on its specification and use.

Dart Valley’s Mike Allen explains how no-touch taps can assist in the fight against an organism which continues to attract much attention.

NHS Trusts are large energy consumers, and the health sector has been compelled to address conservation issues – for both environmental and financial reasons. Kevin Jones of Schneider Electric Services and Projects argues that hospitals’ energy policies must consider holistic remedies.

Bill Earlie of test instrument and precision measurement company Cropico explains the implications of new guidance on electrical installations in medical environments.

There is a plethora of legislation and guidelines relating to the control and supply of water in healthcare establishments. Here, Roy Minett, marketing manager of Rada in the UK, provides some advice on making sense of what is expected and required.

In one form or another, concrete has been around for some 7,000 years and will, it appears, continue being the sine qua non construction material for the foreseeable future, says John Milner, chairman of the Structural Precast Association. This article was first published in the March 2007 issue of Building Engineer.

The 2007 HEFMA Conference & Exhibition, to be held at the Hilton Blackpool Hotel on 23 and 24 May, will be the 10th annual event organised by the Health Facilities Management Association. Health Estate Journal presents a preview.

Health Estate Journal reports on how a leading NHS Trust is resolving a telephone number shortage crisis and is ensuring it has capability to meet major incident call demands.

Workplace slips and trips cost an estimated £500 million per year, and sometimes cause serious injuries. Health Estate Journal reproduces guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive on how correct floor cleaning can prevent accidents.

Healthcare facilities are generally commissioned according to standards laid down by specific stipulations or the consultant engineers. This commissioning process is normally only concerned with the physical functioning of the building services and is aimed at ensuring the installed services are operating according to the engineers’ specifications. It is no longer acceptable just to conduct a thorough clean, commonly called a hospital clean, and consider that as adequate for patient occupation, writes Kevin Moon.

New legislation in The Netherlands concentrates on the importance of correct ventilation in operating theatres to prevent post-operative infections. H.J Nicolaas, of the Netherlands Board for Health Facilities, explains the new guidelines.

How much do healthcare estate professionals ever think about what goes into the design of products used in the workplace every day? There may be much, much, more to them than is realised, as industrial designer Bruce Hutchison of DesignEdge Cambridge explains.