FEATURE ARTICLES

The Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust is a multi-disciplinary Trust in South Wales, with acute, community and mental health facilitates making up a property portfolio of 20 buildings and 90,000m2. The flagship of the Trust is the nucleus design 600-bed Royal Glamorgan Hospital which was commissioned in December 1999 and boasts state of-the-art services in providing healthcare to the population Rhondda Cynon Taf, writes Anthony Hayward.

The completion of a 408 m2 major new aseptic pharmacy unit for the St George’s Hospital NHS Trust, London, is a significant example of the benefits of using modern modular construction techniques compared to a traditional cleanroom build. At every stage from concept through project planning to final completion, the use of modules proved to be the most appropriate for the task. Markus Möllmann, Clean Modules export executive, reports.

Large-scale hospital refurbishments and redecoration programmes are not uncommon in the NHS today. One hospital is pioneering a completely new approach to its refurbishment which could save the UK taxpayer millions of pounds if replicated across other NHS Trusts.

New waste management legislation comes into force later this year which will change the way all organisations deal with waste generated on their premises. The issue of employee recycling participation and the right choice of waste and recycling systems should be high on the agenda for the healthcare sector according to Dr David Gillett, sales and marketing director at Taylor, the UK based waste containment provider.

Healthcare Estates 2007 promises to be the biggest ever, and the opening of an extra exhibition hall will ensure that every aspect of estates management is catered for.

Healthcare Estates is now only a few weeks away and there is still time to register for the event. Exhibition director Colin Williams describes aspects of the event, which takes place in Harrogate on 16 and 17 October at the Harrogate International Centre.

IHEEM president Phil Nedin looks forward to Healthcare Estates to be held in Harrogate (16-17 October).

Hospital-acquired infection is the cause of about 5,000 deaths a year in the UK. In New Zealand, there are more than three times as many such deaths as from the annual road toll. The costs in loss of income, in pain and suffering and in direct costs to hospitals are staggering, writes Clive Broadbent.

This Department of Health report explains the implications and benefits of an integrated approach to hospital cleaning which utilises a combination of microfibre cleaning materials and periodic steam cleaning.

Group Health Co-operative (GHC) in Seattle has sold its last hospital. In future, GHC will provide healthcare to over 600,000 people by using hospitals belonging to other organisations. Nigel Edwards and Richard Darch explore whether hospital buildings should be owned by NHS Trusts.

The Code of Practice in the Health Act 2006 will assist NHS organisations plan and implement how they can prevent and control healthcare associated infections. Estates and facilities managers need to closely adhere to the Code, which has the potential of yielding significant benefits. Report by KATE WOODHEAD RGN DMS.

A sustainable approach to the design of healthcare premises is essential if the business effectiveness of facilities is to be maximised through their whole life. This report, by Phil Nedin, president of IHEEM and Arup global healthcare business leader, is based on a paper he presented at this year’s annual general meeting of the Institute.

A huge amount of interest is now centred on making further improvements to the energy efficiency of healthcare facilities – reduction of carbon footprints is to the fore. However, there is nothing new in ensuring the best is obtained from healthcare power systems – the Health Estate Journal ‘Then and now’ feature below shows the specific focus on generating plant six decades ago. The feature offers advice on maximising returns from power systems and was originally published in the October 1948 edition of The Hospital Engineer – the journal of the Institution of Hospital Engineers (now IHEEM).

The Engineering Council UK (ECUK) is pressing for greater Government action to protect the status of UK integrated Masters Degrees from threats posed by the “Bologna process” under which 45 European countries have agreed to align their higher education systems.

Among the many e-petitions currently found on the 10 Downing Street website, there are two concerning the status of UK engineers. Both of these call for the epithet “engineer” to become a title protected in law.

NHS Trust boards face challenging targets for cutting carbon emissions from new and existing facilities. Spirax Sarco’s Murdo Macdonald looks at the help available and some of the latest examples of good practice in steam systems for hospital heating and hot water.

A £29 billion investment in hospitals, health centres and equipment has played a major role in driving forward improvements in patient care, a comprehensive assessment of the NHS estate affirms.

In some circumstances staff must work near live electrical conductors, and, as the HSE’s Wayne Vernon writes, there are detailed regulations that must be adhered to.

Mick Compton, Authorised Person (Sterilizers), gives an insight into the history and role of an AP(S) and reports on a two day discussion forum at W&H Sterilization in Pedrengo, Italy.

Dalkia’s new CarbonCare service has been designed to help businesses in the battle to reduce carbon emissions. James Verrinder reports from its London launch.