PROFESSION-WIDE EXPERTISE
power density seven times higher than typical UV-C lamps, allowing rapid disinfection at a lower wavelength that is safer for the user. Combining this novel laser technology with existing biosafety boxes could provide a faster way of decontaminating PPE, ventilators, and other tools.
Handwashing continues to be central to the World Health Organization’s advice on dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. Washhand basins should be accessible at frequent intervals throughout hospitals for staff and visitors alike, and should ideally be contact-free. Engineering has the potential to help with the speed and effectiveness of handwashing, with innovative solutions such as Sloan Water Technology taps that deliver water containing tiny bubbles activated by sound waves. This creates a microscopic scrubbing action that could enable faster and more effective cleaning.
FinsenTech THOR UVC.
These can be further aided by cold plasma technology, a form of advanced electric air filtration that can be used alongside ventilation to collect and kill air contaminants.
How disruptive technologies can be applied
COVID-19 has opened up new opportunities to explore how disruptive technologies can be applied to the decontamination challenge. M Squared, one of last year’s finalists for the UK’s premier award for engineering innovation, the MacRobert Award, has been working with the University of Southampton with support from the University of Strathclyde to develop a novel ultraviolet- C laser light source. This laser delivers a
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IHEEM and our other engineering institutions play a vital role in ensuring that that those who practice as professional engineers have the appropriate skills, competencies, and mindset
26 Health Estate Journal July 2020
Ventilation and building layout Ventilation and building layout can also significantly augment (or hamper) efforts to reduce hospital-onset infection. Hospitals should ideally have high ceilings, with a mixture of narrow plan and open plan spaces. The layout, pressurisation of the space, fresh air supply, and extraction process, all have to be considered to deliver effective hospital ventilation strategies. Patient isolation with en-suite single-bedrooms can limit the spread of hospital-onset infections, while movement between rooms and access by visitors increases the risk of infection. In the UK, natural ventilation can prove highly effective, allowing access to fresh air at high air exchange rates to increase the dilution of airborne pathogens.
Engineering a response to the challenge
The COVID-19 pandemic has already impacted profoundly on health and wellbeing, daily life, and the economy around the world. It is essential that we continue to work together to boost the preparedness of our healthcare systems, ensuring capacity in the critical care system for those worst affected, in a safe environment, where infection is well controlled. Engineers are used to working within multi-disciplinary teams to discharge their duties. IHEEM and our other engineering institutions play a vital role in ensuring that that those who practice as professional engineers have the appropriate skills, competencies, and mindset, to continue keeping hospitals safe – at all times, and not just during this exceptionally challenging pandemic. To all those IHEEM members who have been working hard to keep our hospital estates and facilities working effectively and safely, we record our thanks and appreciation for all that you do.
Hayaatun Sillem
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, HonFIHEEM, is the Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, which brings together the UK’s leading engineers and technologists for a shared purpose – to promote engineering excellence for the benefit of society. Prior to her appointment as Chief Executive, she was the Academy’s Deputy CEO. She previously served as Committee Specialist ,and later Specialist Adviser, to the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee.
Dr Sillem has extensive leadership experience in UK and international engineering, innovation, and diversity and inclusion activities. She is a trustee of the London Transport Museum and EngineeringUK; serves as a member of the Made Smarter Commission and chairs its Expert Stakeholder Panel; chairs the judging panel for the St Andrews Prize for the Environment, and is a member of advisory groups for Lloyd’s Register Foundation, accelerateHER, and the BCS. She was named as one of the ‘Inspiring Fifty’ women in tech in 2018. She has a Masters in Biochemistry (MBiochem) from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in signal transduction from Cancer Research UK/University College London. She is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and an Honorary Professor at UCL’s Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy. In January 2020, Dr Sillem was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List for services to International Engineering.
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©Calum McCarron
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