RECENT NEWS

With help from artificial intelligence, researchers at the world-famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology have discovered novel antibiotics that they say can combat two hard-to-treat infections: a drug-resistant form of gonorrhoea, and multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is supporting a series of industry consultations that it says will ‘help to create the competence standards needed to make UK buildings safer and more sustainable’.

Seven leading design and construction organisations are co-signatories for the next edition of The Silent Pandemic whitepaper led by the Healthcare Infection Society exploring how the built environment can help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and tackle the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Facing increased surgical demand, and having initially planned only a cosmetic refresh of its operating theatre, Alnwick Hospital in Northumberland consulted with Bender UK, and it became clear that the theatre’s underlying electrical infrastructure was ‘dangerously outdated and non-compliant with modern HTM standards’.

Plans are now well underway for a new surgical centre at Guy’s Hospital in London, following government approval just granted to Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Ergéa, a UK provider of vendor-neutral Managed Equipment Services (MES), and Newton’s Tree, reportedly the first enterprise-wide AI platform for hospitals, have announced a ‘strategic partnership aimed at transforming healthcare organisations through integrated, AI-enabled, digital solutions’.

ABCA Systems, a North Tyneside-based provider of fire protection, security, and communications systems, has acquired RAAM Construction, a well-established provider of fire protection, construction, maintenance, and repair services.

As ‘one of the building automation sector’s leading drivers of better female representation’, the Building Controls Industry Association’s (BCIA) Young Engineers Network (YEN) recently co-hosted the 'Together We Engineer' event – ‘a thought-provoking discussion on empowering women and the next generation’.

Stepnell is set to deliver a Main Operating Base (MOB) in Dorset for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), aiming to enhance the operational efficiency of emergency services across the South West.

The MTX project to create a new Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre at Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford has reached a key milestone, with delivery and installation of 170 precisely engineered steel structural units now complete.

K1 Investment Management LLC (K1), reportedly ‘one of the largest investors in small-cap enterprise software companies’, has announced what it dubs ‘a strategic investment’ to combine SINGU and Micad, two European-based providers of real estate management software.

Vernacare recently welcomed the Public Health Wales Leadership Cohort to its Blackwood manufacturing facility in Monmouthshire for an engaging afternoon of learning, discussion, and collaboration focused on sustainability in healthcare.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has been given approval by NHS England to build a new diagnostic centre next to Bridgwater Community Hospital.

ModuleCo has completed and handed over a new MRI community diagnostic centre at Furness General Hospital in Barrow-in-Furness, as part of the NHS’s Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) programme.

New Craigs Hospital in Inverness has completed its 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with Robertson Capital Projects, Robertson Facilities Management, and Dalmore Investments.

Barts Health NHS Trust in London says it is saving 90 tonnes of incinerated waste and 374,000 kg of CO2 equivalent annually through new ‘sustainable’ surgical gowns that have been introduced across its hospital theatres.

NHS Property Services and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB have opened the modernised £1.3 m Ingol Healthcare Centre in Preston after several years of work, thanks to the help of Section 106 agreements.

Power Electrics, a leading UK generator specialist, has opened a new depot in East Grinstead, just seven miles from Gatwick Airport.

The Broad Marsh Community Diagnostic Centre (see CGI image) has reached a significant milestone, with enabling works due to start at the Nottingham city centre site on Lister Gate.

MTX Contracts has handed over a new Urology Outpatients Department at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.