Regina Kennedy, an architect and urbanist with a Master’s degree in healthcare facility planning and design, who is currently a programme manager at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the state of Qatar’s ‘premier’ non-profit healthcare provider, examines how, during the design process, the right principles can be applied to ensure that hospitals and other healthcare facilities ‘work’ for all user groups.

Healthcare estates and facilities teams specifying flooring have a wealth of different elements to consider, from the flooring’s visual impact, to how easy it is to keep clean, and how durable it will prove over a period of years, to such key safety aspects as its slip resistance and the degree of colour contrast.

Scott Sinden, managing director of glass processor, Essex Safety Glass (ESG), examines some of the latest trends and developments in the design, manufacture, and supply of increasingly sophisticated security glazing systems, and explains how they can benefit a wide variety of hospital and other healthcare buildings in terms not only of improving the patient environment, but also reducing maintenance requirements and enhancing infection control.

IHEEM President, Greg Markham, has been invited to speak at the Hospital Build & Infrastructure Middle East Exhibition & Congress (HBI-ME), being held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from 2-4 June 2014.

Electrical safety testing of medical equipment is essential to ensure that the apparatus is safe for operators and patients alike. Rigel Medical’s John Backes looks at the latest tests used to assess the integrity of insulation in electrical appliances.

Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) is piloting a remote teleconsultation system that combines video, audio and medical technology with IP telephony to create a “consulting room” environment in a medical setting, home, office or shopping mall. Two key goals are to enable patients many miles from their nearest doctor to receive remote consultations, and to reduce pressure in hospital emergency departments. Jonathan Baillie reports.

Following the Grenfell Tower fire, and Dame Judith Hackitt’s subsequent independent review of building regulations and fire safety, HTM 05-03: Part K: Guidance on fire risk assessments in complex healthcare premises,¹ has been revised, with some extensive changes. Maz Daoud, the head of Fire Safety, NHS Estates, NHS England – Commercial Directorate, here assesses the role of an HTM, the risks specific to complex healthcare premises, what’s new in the revised HTM 05-03 Part K, and how this applies in practice.

An expert look at the most important changes in the recently revised HTM 06-01: Electrical services supply and distribution guidance document.

Paul Millard, Technical manager at WRAS (The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme), explains some of the key areas where hospitals and other healthcare premises can act to prevent contamination of the water system, and thus effectively protect patients, visitors, and employees. He also focuses on the accompanying legal and regulatory obligations.

Sarah Bailey MSc, WELL AP, QED Environmental Services in Australia, takes a look at the ‘basics’ of the coronavirus, and discusses some of the key steps that can be taken both within buildings,& in the wider community, to mitigate the virus’s spread

Over the course of 2022, key updates are being introduced to the Building Regulations in England, Scotland, and Wales. These changes will mean that both new-build and refurbishment projects will need to meet tougher requirements. Jonathan Ducker, head of Regulatory Affairs at Kingspan Insulation GB, discusses the key changes being introduced this year for energy performance.

An in-depth look at the importance of insulation monitoring in protecting both medical staff and patients in operating theatres and other Group II medical facilities.

Professor Terry Young, a specialist in research in health technology, health services, and information systems, who runs his own consultancy, and Steve Powell, a former Consultant Interventional Radiologist and Clinical director at a large teaching hospital, discuss the sometimes conflicting demands of healthcare providers and patients in terms of the optimal location for medical care provision.

Steven Van De Peer, an Authorising Engineer (Water) at Tetra Consulting, discusses what he believes are ‘some of the opportunities for the UK to lead’ in the design of hospital wastewater systems.

In September’s HEJ we ran the first half of an article on an interesting and forthright discussion at a roundtable event held in mid-June at the Leeds offices of solicitors, Clarion. This covered some of the key elements in, and far-reaching ramifications of, the Building Safety Act 2022, which came into force in October 2023 – both for the healthcare construction chain, and healthcare engineering and estate management personnel. Here HEJ editor, Jonathan Baillie, reports on the event’s second half.

Since September 2019, when the Government announced funding for a major hospital building programme, Trusts throughout the UK have outlined strategic cases for redevelopment projects.

Jimmy Walker, a water hygiene and safety consultant, and consultant medical microbiologist, Dr Mike Weinbren, discuss best practice in keeping hospital water supplies safe, clean, and hygienic, and minimising the risk of waterborne bacteria.

Declan Armour, managing director of Shanco Contracts, explains the importance of effective groundworks for modular builds, and how to avoid unnecessary costs and delays.

In March 2021 John Prendergast, MIHEEM, an Authorising Engineer (Decontamination), and Dr Jimmy Walker, Chair of the Central Sterilising Club, established, and have since led, a Working Group to review guidance for ventilation requirements in endoscope decontamination facilities.

Standby generator users can amortise their outlay on these substantial pieces of equipment and, in the process, cut their overall electricity costs.