HEALTHCARE WATER SAFETY


‘50 years and rising’, and no plans to stop innovating


There aren’t many people who can offer 20 years’ insight into washrooms in healthcare facilities, but when you have three in one business, that certainly is unusual. Yet, that is what Eoin McQuone, Commercial Business director, Stephanie Lee, Commercial Product manager, and Matt Whiting, UK Service manager, at washroom control specialist, Rada, all have. Together, they have over 50 years’ experience and knowledge. HEJ talked to the three professionals to hear their views on some of the highlights of the last five decades, and the future of showering and washrooms in healthcare.


Today’s health service in the UK is in many ways unrecognisable to the health service at the advent of the millennium. Nearly two decades ago, the health service was seeing massive reform in the shape of ‘NHS 2000’, a plan introduced by the then Labour government to boost funding in health provision. It led to investment in new hospitals and estates, and created the more modern spaces that characterise many healthcare premises today. It was at about this time that Matt Whiting, Stephanie Lee, and Eoin McQuone all joined Rada. Long service is not unusual at Rada, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of water controls for commercial markets. Many people have been with the business for more than 10 years, but with a combined 50 years (and rising), Eoin McQuone, Matt Whiting, and Stephanie Lee stand apart for their longer service. Eoin McQuone puts the number of staff with long-term service at the company down to ‘the opportunities and innovation in the business’. Remarking on his own development with the company, he explains that he first joined Rada as product manager to work on digital products. He has then held roles as Marketing manager, before moving up to Marketing director, and is now Commercial Business director. “Digital products were brand new back then,” he says “and the business was concentrating on developing its digital taps for commercial markets. Healthcare was a key area of focus, because of the importance of accuracy, and the more demanding environment for handwashing and cleanliness, both for patients and staff. The functionality, temperature accuracy,


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through a process of learning and careful engineering. It’s that focus to keep developing and improving that means there are always opportunities to grow and learn. People stay with us because they can see we’re striving to achieve the best possible outcomes for the sectors we work in. It provides a continuity and an intelligence that we think sets our business apart.”


Eoin McQuone argues that the Health and Safety Executive’s ‘L8’ guidelines on Legionella are ‘particularly important’. These specifically linked temperature and infection control, and introduced more comprehensive measures to stop the proliferation of bacteria in water systems.


and automation with digital had the potential to meet the demands that healthcare premises were facing.”


First to market


“They were first-to-market products at the time, and marked something of a shift in the type of products available,” Eoin McQuone continued. “Since then, we have continued innovating and improving them


Even as recently as 10 years ago, there wasn’t the understanding of the importance of managing and controlling bacteria, and how water systems can and should play a key part in that


Matt Whiting and Stephanie Lee agree. Both have held various roles with the business, with Stephanie Lee having first started in the residential market with Rada’s sister business, Mira, before moving into commercial sectors. Her work has involved everything from healthcare to large commercial environments, education, and prisons. Matt Whiting, while always focusing on the service side of Rada’s business, has held several roles. His first job with the business was as a field engineer, before he became a Regional Service manager. His current role as Rada’s UK Service manager means he is responsible for field operations.


Time in the field


Matt Whiting echoes Eoin’s McQuone’s comments about the benefits of long service. He said: “My time in the field means I have broad technical knowledge of our products, how water systems work, and what’s needed for safe water delivery. I’ve seen, first-hand, many of the challenges that our customers are facing, and the problems that our field engineers are solving. I find being able to draw on that when I’m working with our customers invaluable.”


Their time working in the industry has also given each of the three professionals a long-term perspective on key drivers and changes in water controls and healthcare. So, what for them have been the key elements during the last 20 years that have created the biggest shifts in thinking and product innovation in healthcare?


February 2019 Health Estate Journal 59


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