FEATURE ARTICLES

An energy efficiency review carried out by The Carbon Trust at The Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Addenbrooke’s Hospital identified areas where improvements could be made to plant, equipment and processes utilised within the site.

Building for Health, launched recently at Earls Court 2, was part of the Innovations for the Built Environment exhibition. The inaugural show lasted three days and drew a crowd of more than 12,000 visitors. James Verrinder reports.

The use of disposable curtains is providing distinct advantages in a busy accident and emergency department in the north east of England. Nicholas Marshall reports.

Dr Simon Eccles, consultant in emergency medicine at the Homerton University Hospital, London, and the national clinical lead, NHS Connecting for Health, talks about the vital role the National Programme for IT will play in the future delivery of healthcare.

The opening of the new Queen’s Hospital in Romford signalled the end for the Oldchurch Hospital and much of its equipment was recently auctioned. James Verrinder reports.

Dr David Moon, construction programme manager for procurement at the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), comments on how NHS Trusts can achieve sustainability targets through procurement and the steps already being taken to improve resource efficiency in health construction projects.

“Are engineers the new architects?” was the title of a paper presented by Ian Hurst of Buro Happold at last year’s Healthcare Estates Conference. The presentation proved to be slightly controversial, being described in this journal as “provocative”. Ian Hurst says that was not his intention and elaborates on his theme.

Health Estate Journal looks at the role of the newly-formed Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network (MBE KTN).

This Health Estate Journal ‘Then and now’ feature describes some thoughts from about 30 years ago on considerations to be given to hospital lighting. Much has changed in lighting technology in the past three decades but what is put forward in the article remains worthy of study. The article, by Alan Cockram (Building Research Establishment), appeared in the May 1976 edition of Hospital Engineering, the official journal of the Institute of Hospital Engineering (now IHEEM).

The rising level of theft in the construction industry has led to a new initiative in which marked equipment will be allocated a five-digit code and registered on a national database. Richard Harrison, sales and marketing manager, Kubota (UK), discusses the implications.

Schneider Electric Building Systems and Solutions has proved to be an effective, valuable partner in the development of a new PFI-funded acute general hospital for the Derby NHS Foundation Trust. The first phase of a £350 million development is now complete, with Schneider Electric providing an innovative, new solution to electrical distribution.

Legionella presents an ongoing cause for concern in any sector where duty of care responsibilities prevail. Jo Wolters, microbiologist and sector head of TA-Aqua+ at Tour & Andersson, describes a recently developed method of legionella prevention and control.

Graeme Hall, managing director of Brandon Medical, explains how the company’s latest range of pendants can maximise space.

Tackling healthcare-acquired infections needs common sense, a clear pursuit of good hygiene practice, sound product purchasing and the maintenance of a collective responsibility, a specially convened meeting in Staffordshire determined. Nicholas Marshall reports.

A risk management approach to the selection of non-metallic materials used in high pressure medical oxygen systems is discussed by Ben Johnson, product manager at BeaconMedæs.

Off-site manufacture of energy centre systems could help the NHS improve its track record of delivering major projects on time and on budget, argues Murdo MacDonald, major projects manager for Spirax Sarco.

A new cardiac centre at Blackpool’s Victoria Hospital is described as an excellent example of how the ProCure21 process can work.

Patients are being given a choice of where they can be treated, and hospital cleanliness is likely to influence their decision-making process. Increased use of antimicrobial technologies could have major importance in the fight against the spread of bacteria and germs. Trevor Payne reports.

Providing wireless communication solutions at one of the country’s largest mental health facilities is a partnership between South London & Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM) and Ascom which has been in place for more than 10 years. James Verrinder visited the Bethlem Royal Hospital to see the site’s communication system at work.

Artificially created melatonin-supressing blue light can improve patient outcomes and invigorate healthcare staff. Nicholas Marshall reports.