RECENT NEWS

A healthcare facility claimed to be the UK’s first publicly-funded hospital to feature single bedrooms with en suite facilities throughout is on track to complete by mid-September, the contractor has confirmed.

Jon Prichard, who served on the Engineering Council’s Board from 2003 – 2007, and is currently chairman of trustees for the organisation’s pension scheme, has been appointed as the Council’s CEO.

Balfour Beatty Construction is to undertake the £15.9 million conversion of an existing office building at the Wellington Hospital in London’s St John’s Wood, said to be Europe’s largest private hospital, into a fivestorey “state-of-the-art” medical facility.

Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) has published the first consultation draft of a new guidance document designed to assist those planning and designing new or upgraded Central Decontamination Units, or CDUs. Views on the new document, “Scottish Health Planning Note 13 Part 1 – Decontamination Facilities:

The new Well Street Surgery in London’s Hackney, designed by architects Stock Woolstencroft, has opened on the site of a Victorian textile factory in Shore Road, close to the practice’s former home.

Workplace services provider the PHS Group has launched a new company, formed from the merger of two specialists in safety, Epsilon Test Services, and CLM Compliance, to offer “a multi-disciplinary service that delivers complete legislative compliance”.

KM Cleaning Services has won a threeyear contract with Quintiles – reportedly the only fully integrated bio and pharmaceutical services provider offering clinical, commercial, and capital solutions..

Radiology has witnessed a “technological evolution” in the past few decades, with the growth of digital radiology (DR) in particular fuelled by the clinical value of PACS systems.

A cutting edge cystic fibrosis (CF) centre being constructed at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital will feature antimicrobial copper door furniture throughout in a bid to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections in particularly vulnerable patients.

Energy saving specialist Marshall Tufflex Energy Management (MTEM) has announced “an important new appointment “to its management team.

A new link bridge, designed by HLM Architects for NHS Kensington and Chelsea as part of the £15 million redevelopment of the East Pavilion at the St Charles’ Centre for Health and Wellbeing, a Grade II-listed former Victorian hospital in West London, has been completed.

It is a matter of public record which publicly-funded bodies have complied with the Energy Performance in Buildings Regulations by having a current Display Energy Certificate (DEC) on display.

Law firm Hempsons has completed what it dubs “a novel corporate transaction” – claimed to be England’s first of its type – for NHS Hull, involving the transfer of the healthcare body’s entire provider arm to City Health Care Partnership CIC (CHCP), a social enterprise formed as a community interest company limited by shares.

Modular building specialist Portakabin has completed its first project in “a pioneering new partnership” with renal care services provider Diaverum. The new, hired, satellite unit, recently opened at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust’s Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, allows kidney disease patients to benefit from care closer to home.

The British Parking Association (BPA) has affirmed its support for “fair and transparent” management of hospital parking following the publication of a recent Which? report on the issue.

IHEEM’s new President Paul Kingsmore (pictured, seated left, with branch chairman Nigel Keary and committee members) opened the 10th Bi-annual Conference of the Institute’s Northern Ireland Branch at Bangor’s Marine Court Hotel recently – a successful event attended by an audience of over 200.

Dr Manju Patel, chair of IHEEM’s Business Development Committee, and acute sector planning lead at NHS Grampian, is one of four co-authors of a book recently published by Wiley-Blackwell that examines the part governance and knowledge management can play in improving the performance of PFI/PPP projects.

A good showing of delegates was present at Carrow Road, Norwich at the recent re-launch meeting of the IHEEM East Anglia Branch (HEJ – June 2010).

Fifteen members of the East Midlands branch, plus family and guests, recently visited the Royal Derby Hospital as a guest of IHEEM member Charles Harrison, general manager of Skanska Facilities Services, where they were treated to a short presentation on the £334 million, 1,159-bed facility’s seven-year construction, a visit to the hospital’s elevated helipad, and a tour of the main engineering services.

Aspiring directors and senior managers in the EFM field have the chance to evaluate themselves against a series of management competencies and identify their strengths and development needs at the next Development Centre Programme event, being held from 12-14 October at the University of Warwick, with a briefing day on 16 September in London.