The popularity of the lay-up cabinet from Medical Air Technology (MAT) continues to grow, with Spire South Bank Hospital in Worcester, Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Glasgow and Nuffield Health Glasgow Hospital all taking delivery of cabinets in recent months.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has marked a significant milestone in the building of its new £10 million extension to York Hospital with a bolt-tightening ceremony.

Tightening one of the initial structural frame bolts in the extension’s steel frame, Trust CEO, Patrick Crowley, said: “This is the biggest capital investment for many years, and will allow the Trust to continue to provide the highest quality of service to the growing number of patients needing endoscopy. This is an exciting development for the Trust, and will transform our service into a centre of excellence for endoscopy, providing enhanced high quality care to our patients.”

An IHEEM Regional Conference and Exhibition in Cardiff took place almost 75 years to the day after IHEEM was founded.

Medical Air Technology (MAT) recently completed the total refurbishment of four ultraclean operating theatres at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital, working with Kier and NG Bailey.

Concerned that not only do engineering professionals often not get the recognition they deserve, but equally that the profession’s importance to society has been under-valued and under-acknowledged, especially given the past decade’s increasing focus on the service sector,

Martin West, head of the Healthcare Property consulting business at property consultancy, advice, and transaction services specialist Drivers Jonas Deloitte, argues that, with signs of improvement in the property market, now is a good time for estates managers to consider how efficiently their buildings are being utilised, and how sale, or different use of, under-used structures might help enhance their Trust’s operations and release much-needed capital.

A classic illustration of how integrating healthcare facilities with, or very close to, wider public and community services in an ambitious primary care setting can benefit the community via added convenience and accessibility, simultaneously reducing pressure on local acute health services, was provided by two speakers at Health Service Journal’s “Rebuilding the NHS” conference in London. Health Estate Journal reports.

The rapid pace of technical, managerial and professional changes across the healthcare estates and facilities management sector mean a visit to this year’s Healthcare Estates conference and exhibition is more essential than ever. Exhibition director Hugh Robinson looks ahead to some of the highlights of the 2008 event, which should offer delegates a greater breadth and variety of content, plus access to more exhibitors, than ever before.

IHEEM business development manager Louise Corfield examines the role of project management in the skill set of today’s healthcare estates and facilities manager, and explains how the Institute has joined forces with a number of organisations to offer members access to training in this increasingly vital area.

Good acoustic conditions in hospitals and other healthcare facilities are known not only to benefit patients by creating an environment that facilitates rest, sleeping, consultation and treatment, but also clinical and nursing staff.

Tim Lambert, sales manager at Purite Ltd, explains how the latest water purification technology is helping hospital sterile services departments in the battle against hospital acquired infections.

Martin Allen, managing director for Pointsec Mobile Technologies looks at ways in which the healthcare sector can maximise IT data protection strategies.

Martin Allen, managing director for Pointsec Mobile Technologies looks at ways in which the healthcare sector can maximise IT data protection strategies.

OCS Healthcare has been delivering high quality facilities management and site support services to the NHS for more than 15 years, but it is only with the opportunities presented by working in partnership under the new PFI initiatives that the management skills and innovative solutions of a business which employs 65,000 people and works in every continent have brought about real change in the integration of professional site-based support in the sector.

The recent Futurebuild event provided insights into how modern construction methods can improve the delivery of healthcare facilities. Jason Rayfield reports.

Careful selection and incorporation of art works in a hospital need not necessarily be an expensive exercise and, as four recent examples from leading arts in healthcare specialist Artinsite show, can dramatically improve environments.

As the fight continues to limit the spread of MRSA infections in hospitals, Health Estate Journal examines how one games-based learning organisation has produced a novel way of assisting.

Hospital lighting must conform to a wide range of international standards. The purchaser of lights, ranging from bedside lamps to operating theatre units, is responsible for ensuring that a hospital’s luminaires comply with relevant legislation. James Verrinder reports.

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.

Patients are being given a choice of where they can be treated, and hospital cleanliness is likely to influence their decision-making process. Increased use of antimicrobial technologies could have major importance in the fight against the spread of bacteria and germs. Trevor Payne reports.