COMPLIANCE
Decontamination Medical Gases Ventilation Water Fire
Electrical (LV) Electrical (HV) Lifts/LOLLER
Pressure Systems Asbestos
Confined Spaces
Environmental/Energy /Carbon Reduction
3 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Figure 2: Suggested number of lead or deputy post-holders in a variety of healthcare facilities.
n Large / medium primary care non- residential site.
n Specialist hospital. n Large / complex mental health or learning disability hospital.
n Medium / small mental health or rehabilitation hospital.
n Multi-site non-residential small sites (community premises).
AEs – subject matter experts or Jacks of All Trades? HTM 00 – Policies and Principles of Healthcare Engineering (2014) outlines the role of an AE, and indicates the levels of specialist knowledge, skills, and experience required to be achieved and maintained to hold this role. Clause 3.16 says: ‘The AE will act as an independent professional adviser to the healthcare organisation. The AE should be appointed by the organisation with a brief to provide services in accordance with the relevant HTM. The professional status and role required may vary in accordance with the specialist service being supported.’ Clause 3.17, meanwhile, states: ‘The AE will act as assessor and make recommendations for the appointment of Authorised Persons (APs), monitor the performance of the service, and provide
‘‘ ‘‘
The number of Authorised Person roles that an individual can reasonably be expected to hold successfully is directly dependent on the technical subject matter and the size/complexity of the site involved
an annual audit to the DP. To effectively carry out this role, particularly with regard to audit, the AE should remain independent of the operational structure of the healthcare organisation.’ Given the depth and range of
knowledge and Continued Professional Development required to become an AE, and to maintain the essential technical ability to fulfil the role as an AE and subject matter expert, my view is that it’s highly unlikely that an individual can practically maintain the role for more than 2-3 subject areas.
The Authorised Person (AP) HTM 00 – Policies and Principles of Healthcare Engineering outlines the role of an Authorised Person, and indicates the levels of specialist knowledge, skills, and experience required to be achieved
Increasingly issues are arising due to staff and skills shortages that are seeing an evolving situation where the level of responsibility held by a small number of single technical professionals exceeds the practical limits of both their skills / knowledge levels and time availability
and maintained to hold this role. Clause 3.18 says: ‘The AP has the key operational responsibility for the specialist service. This person will be qualified and sufficiently experienced and skilled to fully operate the specialist service. They will be nominated by the AE, appointed by the healthcare organisation, and be able to demonstrate: n Their understanding through familiarisation with the system and attendance at an appropriate professional course.
n Competency. n A level of experience, and n Evidence of knowledge and skills.’
Clause 3.19 states: ‘An important element of this role is the maintenance of records, quality of service, and maintenance of system safety (integrity)’, Clause 3.20: ‘The AP will also be responsible for establishing and maintaining the validation of Competent Persons (CPs), who may be employees of the organisation or appointed contractors’, and Clause 3.21: ‘Larger sites may need more than one AP for a particular service. Administrative duties such as record keeping should be assigned to Specific APs and recorded in the operational policies.
March 2022 Health Estate Journal 17
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Large acute or Teaching Hospital
Medium
multi-service or District
General Hospital Small
multi-service or inpatient
community hospital
Large/medium primary care non-residential site
Specialist hospital
Large/complex mental health or learning
disability hospital
Medium/small mental health or rehabilitation hospital
Multi-site
non-residential small sites
(community premises)
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