TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Leading the Standard ‘CUSTODIANS
OF HEALTHCARE’ THE VITAL ROLE OF AUTHORISING ENGINEERS
A look ahead to July’s 2025 IHEEM Authorising Engineers Conference, and some of the key roles and functions of these ‘custodians of healthcare’, by Harry Evans – an IHEEM-registered AE(W) for HDE Authorising Engineers, who is also Chair of the NHS Estates Training Advisory Group.
The IHEEM Authorising Engineers Conference takes place in two months’ time – on 8 July – at Epsom Downs Racecourse, and offers attendees the opportunity to hear industry-leading experts present on matters across a range of disciplines within healthcare engineering.
Notably, this event is a key opportunity
for individuals represented on the IHEEM Authorising Engineers registers to attend an in-person event, network with AEs from across the healthcare landscape, and gain valuable insight into the most relevant challenges and opportunities in each related field. All IHEEM Authorising Engineers
entered on the AE Registers across decontamination, electrical, medical gas pipeline systems, water, and ventilation, are subject to a thorough and extensive peer-reviewed application process, with a maintained position on the relevant register also requiring a repeat review every three years. As I – as an IHEEM-registered AE (Water), and regular reviewer of new Authorising Engineers for the discipline – explain below, a comprehensive framework and demonstrably high working standards are essential to the efficacy, transparency, and integrity, of both those working as, and employing, an Authorising Engineer.
Role formalised via
various HTMs The role of Authorising Engineers (AEs) was formalised through various Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs) and guidelines issued by health authorities
10 Health Estate Journal May 2025 An AE(W) interview panel: (left to right) Steve Mount, Harry Evans, and Karina Jones.
such as the Department of Health. These documents outline the responsibilities and standards that AEs must adhere to, ensuring healthcare organisations have access to qualified professionals who can provide independent advice and audits. The title of Authorising Engineer, like most other professions, is not a protected title. This means anyone can use it and claim to be an AE – regardless of their qualifications and experience. Many companies claim to have AEs within their business, and offer these services, along with risk assessments and other water services, as a ‘one-stop shop’. This clearly has the potential for conflicts of interest, as the person setting up the controls would also be undertaking them. The quality of these AEs is also unknown; some
will undoubtedly be very good, but others may not have the necessary experience or qualifications to deliver the expert service expected from an AE.
The IHEEM register’s
importance Over time, the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM) established a register of Authorising Engineers to maintain high standards and provide a framework for their roles across different engineering disciplines. This register helps healthcare organisations identify and engage qualified AEs, ensuring that critical systems like water hygiene, medical gas pipeline systems, and electrical systems, are managed effectively and safely.
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