IHEEM PRESIDENT INTERVIEW
Memorable moments I asked about some of his most memorable moments, and some of the biggest challenges, in his time with the Trust. He said: “The role brings many challenges – from new- build construction to changes in technology and guidance. Particularly with such a large site, and so many wards, the impact of – for example – the HTM on medical gases – where instead of using oxygen bottled gas reserves we have several liquid storage VIEs with an interlinked network, was significant. I’ve also got involved on the committees and the authoring groups for HTMs over the years. Constructing new buildings is always a challenge; getting a building from concept specification to design, and then commissioned outcome, is a significant task – especially in an acute healthcare environment.” He continued: “The COVID-19 pandemic was particularly difficult in Northern Ireland, because we have no manufacture of liquid oxygen; we can’t make any gas here. Our oxygen for hospital use thus all came in from The Republic of Ireland, which was part of the EU, whereas we weren’t, which led us into a vulnerability, explaining why we had the eight oxygen generators manufactured locally.
Graduate training programme initiated “One of the biggest things I’ve been involved in,” he added, “was starting up the graduate training programme for healthcare engineers we now have in Northern Ireland – because we’ve found it very difficult to attract young management engineers. We took on trainee engineers, who did a two-year placement, and were then brought in as junior engineers. We recruited staff with electrical and mechanical and building services degrees, and the scheme was subsequently rolled out across Northern Ireland. It has worked well; we now have high-level people who undertook the training in every hospital. We’ve since extended the scheme to entrants who have either been in service or have a Foundation Degree or HNC, but may have minimal trade knowledge. We call it a technician training scheme, and it runs parallel to the graduate training scheme.” One of the most memorable single days in Nigel
Keery’s career must have been 14 February 2023 when – having been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022, he received an OBE for Services to Public Health from King Charles (who was by then King, but had yet to be crowned), at Windsor Castle. I wondered whether he feels the OBE was largely attributable to his work during the pandemic. He said: “In fact they don’t tell you. Someone must put you forward, and I was fortunate that with more than one nomination, my name must have risen higher up the ranking.” He added: “While I’m very proud of my OBE, hearing I was to receive it was initially a bit of a shock. You then wonder: ‘Why me, and not others in my team?’ Much of the time in a healthcare engineering or estate management role you’re part of a team, and although you may be leading its direction, it’s a collective effort, so it was very humbling.” I wondered what he thought might be some of his key priorities as IHEEM’s new President. He replied: “I would say the membership, people, and branches; ‘putting back in’ to the Institute, investing resource – in terms both of time and direction. I think we need to better communicate with our members, and improve access to key information for them. Our conferences and seminars are really important here, but so are the quality and content of our branch meetings. I think some of the less active branches need encouragement, but remember that everything’s voluntary. It’s thus OK to have good ideas, but they must be deliverable.” I asked if he had any particular ideas on
The first thing you have to do is chat; reach out, network, have the communication, and see what the branches’ thoughts and desires are, before deciding how best the Institute can help
ways this could be better achieved? He said: “The first thing you have to do is chat; reach out, network, have the communication, and see what the branches’ thoughts and desires are, before deciding how best the Institute can help.”
The President’s role in communication I asked him what he thinks is the most useful part the President can play in this? He said: “You have a CEO running the business, setting the direction, and managing the day-to-day running. The President is there to support that role and help with advice and thoughts on direction, and to give others a steer about the Institute, what it stands for, and what it can achieve. I’ve been part of the Institute from the age of 29, and am now 63, and a Fellow. Membership has given me enormous professional, social, and personal opportunities and benefits, largely through networking and meeting people. As I have grown into an experienced healthcare professional, being an IHEEM member has been key. “I’ve met some unbelievable people, many of whom
who I’d consider mentors, but most have simply been individuals who have given freely of their time, taken an interest, and encouraged me. I hope I’m now at the stage to do similarly for others – through branches and through my enthusiasm, because improvements only happen if we make them happen.” He continued: “It just takes a few people, at different times, to do a little, and in conjunction with others, this makes a big contribution.”
A rapidly changing world I asked about any other priorities he has identified as IHEEM President. He said: “I think the world has changed. There are so many challenges globally. We’re in a world of global complexities, but what we must do in our professional careers is build an organisation of resilience. IHEEM should have resilience and business continuity, and be looking continuously at how we can best meet and address these challenges – everything from COVID to the unstable situation in the Ukraine and Europe, and the changes in trading partners around the world. There’s also a potential significant political upheaval on the horizon, depending on who wins the US Presidential election. So, there are lots of macroeconomic challenges. Amidst all this, the ‘ordinary’ healthcare sector employee simply has to get on and do their best; the NHS never closes, and we have to keep going. Patients come
Nigel’s son, Gregory, an IHEEM Student member and Trainee Estates officer, his wife Mandy, and his daughter, Natasha, an IHEEM Student member and biomedical engineer, proudly pictured with him, after he had received his OBE from King Charles (who was by then King, but had yet to be crowned), at Windsor Castle on 14 February 2023.
November 2024 Health Estate Journal 27
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