FEATURE ARTICLES

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.

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.