COMMENT IHEEM Much to think on as coronavirus cases rise


JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING AND ESTATE MANAGEMENT


Editor: Jonathan Baillie jonathanbaillie@stepcomms.com


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BSc(Hons), CEng, FIMechE, FIHEEM


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Last month – in the face of growing concerns over coronavirus’s spread and the Government’s response – IHEEM took the difficult decision to postpone the Authorising Engineer 2020 conference scheduled for 18 March and the Conference, Exhibition & Awards Dinner due to be held in Dublin in May (see page 8). The Institute simultaneously issued an Operational Policy Statement providing guidance on travel, events, and meetings for members, staff, and other stakeholders with an interest in IHEEM and its activities (page 9). Given the severity of the respiratory illness the COVID-19 can cause, particularly to the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, and the speed with which it has spread, it is no surprise that numerous events are being postponed worldwide, or that, over the past month, the media has focused on little else. While the invaluable job that ‘frontline’ clinical staff do has never been clearer, what impact are the coronavirus and its predicted spread likely to have on the healthcare estates community? With increasing demand for beds, there will undoubtedly be mounting pressure on hospital space, and its optimal and flexible use, and indeed with warnings that any major surge in cases will see existing bed capacity exceeded, the Government has already begun


COVER STORY


A ‘host of new features’ for ‘second generation’ tap filters


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Tandrup, the Danish-based water safety product manufacturer, has added a new series of point- of-use Tap Filters to its T-Safe Medical range.


The product launch follows the success of the first-generation T-Safe 92-day filter, now used by over 350 hospitals across the NHS in the fight against infection from waterborne pathogens. MD, Stephen McCreanor, said: “We engaged with NHS Estates and Infection Control personnel, and Authorising Engineers, to understand how to improve on an already successful product offering. During our discussions several common themes came into sharp focus. It became clear that the demands on water safety were both increasing and changing, due to several factors.”


Tandrup’s research identified that users were most concerned about the flow performance of their filters, and their usability for effective handwashing, the risks of retrograde contamination, effective cleaning, and management of filter usage. The ‘second- generation’ tap filters have been designed to address these issues via a host of new features:


n 31-day & 92-day lifecycle filters. n Optional laminar flow and standard outlets.


n Increased ‘activity space’. n Smooth bore external surfaces, and a ‘clean stop’ mechanism.


Tandrup has also developed a comprehensive filter cleaning guide in consultation with NHS infection control teams, and introduced a collaboration with ZetaSafe that will facilitate electronic management of filter deployment. Stephen McCreanor


added: “We feel we have responded well to our customers’ evolving needs, and the practical challenges they face, through innovation, while continuing to offer value for money – something T-Safe users are accustomed to.’’


Tandrup Unit 11


i2 CIDO Innovation Centre 73 Charlestown Road Portadown Co. Armagh BT63 5PP T: 02838 894 455 Email: info@t-safe.co.uk www.t-safe.co.uk


talking to hotels and private hospitals to see what additional capacity they can offer. Public health warnings have focused on regular handwashing, but there will be increasing pressure on FM teams to ensure that hospitals are kept scrupulously clean, and indeed on all aspects of infection control. Last month Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, acknowledged a significant shortage of ventilators in the NHS – a considerable worry given that for patients with more severe symptoms, such machines will be life-critical. Interestingly, the Government asked manufacturers of a wide range of other equipment – including reportedly JCB and a number of car manufacturers – about their potential ability to switch some of their production to ventilator manufacture. It has also appealed for help from the offsite build sector, with its fast-track and flexible construction capability. These are unsettling times, but healthcare engineering and healthcare estates management professionals will no doubt step up and play their part in meeting whatever challenges this new virus presents.


Jonathan Baillie I Editor jonathanbaillie@stepcomms.com


April 2020 Health Estate Journal 5


health estate journal


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