RECENT NEWS

A fully portable surgical operating theatre powered by solar, pedal, or wind energy has been developed by a team of medical professionals in Kent that will offer life-saving surgical treatment to people living in some of the most remote and hostile parts of the world.

The £62.5 million Brent Emergency Care and Diagnostic Centre (BECaD) at Central Middlesex Hospital, Park Royal, London, has completed. The scheme was designed by HLM Architects in association with Avanti Architects and constructed by Bouygues (UK) through the PFI form of procurement.

Cambridge-based Cound Webber Architects is further expanding its design team with the appointment of architectural technician Alan Baker.

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has thrown its weight behind the RIBA’s proposals that design issues should be considered at the early stages of PFI projects.

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

Pamela Greenwood has recently joined IHEEM as accounts manager while Marie Davey is away on maternity leave.

Due to popular demand, IHEEM will be hosting a further seminar titled “Decontamination: Focus on HTM 01” on 6 June in Birmingham.

Information has been provided by the Department of Health Estates and Facilities Division relating to changes to the surgical instrument decontamination guidance revision programme arising from the NICE recommendations and ESAC-Pr stakeholder consultation.

All IHEEM members are invited to join the IHEEM President, Phil Nedin, at the IHEEM Annual AGM, 15th May 2007, Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London.

The first image of Southend Hospital’s multi-million pound redevelopment plan has been released by the master planners of the scheme, LSI Architects.

Lawyers from Addleshaw Goddard’s national projects team closed 13 major PPP and PFI deals across a range of sectors including housing, education, health and utilities, in an eight week period.

Hornagold & Hills has completed the construction of the new James Black Centre at King’s College London.

About 40 light bulbs have been removed from hospital corridors at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, the BBC has reported.

A new £6 million nursing home has been opened on the site of the former St Vincent’s Hospital at Pinner, Middlesex. The 18 acre home, built by construction contractor Osborne, can accommodate 60 beds in single occupancy rooms.

Decontamination and sterile services provider Sterience is now focusing on providing services through partnership agreements with Trusts. Specifically aimed at upgrading existing hospital provision, the service will encompass investment in new equipment and TUPE issues to retain existing on-site skills while enhancing capabilities. This new focus for the UK follows the decision by Sterience to withdraw from participation in the National Programme as a result of recent events within this scheme.

The new state-of-the-art Longview centre in Huyton, Merseyside, has been officially opened.

Construction work has begun on a new mental health unit in South Yorkshire which is set to become a showcase for “green” design in the NHS.

Mailbox has completed the supply and installation of HTM 71 high density materials management systems at the new children’s hospital and adult head and neck centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

Patrick Johnson, managing director of NHS Supply Chain, is set to speak at the Medilink Yorkshire and Humber Innovation Day and Healthcare Business Awards on 19 April.

Kingston Hospital NHS Trust will gain secure environmentally friendly energy supplies through a 15-year PFI agreement which will save around 4,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.