COMMENT IHEEM Form and function now on an equal footing
JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING AND ESTATE MANAGEMENT
Editor: Jonathan Baillie
jonathanbaillie@stepcomms.com
Technical Editor: Mike Arrowsmith
BSc(Hons), CEng, FIMechE, FIHEEM
Sales Executive: Peter Moon
petermoon@stepcomms.com
Business Manager: Nick Carpenter
nickcarpenter@stepcomms.com
Publisher: Geoff King
geoffking@stepcomms.com
Publishing Director: Trevor Moon
trevormoon@stepcomms.com
Journal Administration: Katy Cockle
katycockle@stepcomms.com
Journal Design: Dave Woodall
Published ten times a year by: Step Communications Ltd, Step House,
North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR Email:
info@healthestatejournal.com Web:
www.healthestatejournal.com Tel: 01892 779999 Fax: 01892 616177
Last month (see page 14) I spent an interesting few hours at the Wallingford headquarters of sanitaryware and water controls specialist, Delabie, as the company unveiled an impressive new UK showroom where it can not only show off its range of showers, taps, sinks, flush valves, and other sanitaryware to its healthcare customers in a purpose-designed space, but also provide valuable product training to its sales staff. While I receive thousands of product-related press releases every year, and am thus no stranger to innovation, I was struck, as I listened to the company’s sales director, Ben Boyce, by the very wide range of criteria manufacturers serving this fast-evolving sector must now address when developing new products. In Delabie’s case, not only must its taps, sinks, showers, urinals, and flush valves, be designed to minimise the chance of bacterial build-up and spread, but also to reduce water consumption, be easy to install and maintain, be durable and robust, and be produced sustainably. They must also increasingly look good, with a visual appeal that will enable them to ‘fit’ equally harmoniously into a luxury penthouse, or a public washroom. A look at some of the painstakingly designed products that Delabie – which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary – manufactures and sells into
COVER STORY
Accessorising public washrooms to promote user wellbeing
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©2019: The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management UK ISSN 0957-7742
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Neither the Institute nor the Publisher is able to take any responsibility for views expressed by contributors. Editorial views are not necessarily shared by the Institute. Readers are expressly advised that while the contents of this publication are believed to be accurate, correct and complete, no reliance should be placed upon its contents as being applicable to any particular circumstances. Any advice, opinion or information contained is published only on the footing that The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management, its servants or agents and all contributors to this publication shall be under no liability whatsoever in respect of its contents.
Aesthetics are rarely high on the agenda for washroom facilities in the healthcare sector; for estates and facilities teams, compliance and technical performance take precedence, especially as regards infection control and user safety.
However, says water controls specialist, Delabie, when technical and hygienic needs are met, the resulting form is often ‘institutional and medicalised’, which can provoke very different reactions from users.
The company said: “Some will treat the facilities with a lack of respect, and may even vandalise them. Others may find the institutional aspect distressing, hampering their recuperation. Delabie’s designers take a holistic approach to accessory design, placing an equal emphasis on form as well as function for very good reasons – user well-being and comfort.”
Delabie’s washroom accessories incorporate the essential technical aspects: soap dispenser mechanisms do not block or drip; grab bar fixings are robust and concealed to prevent unwanted removal; stainless steel mirrors maintain their visual integrity and are
unbreakable. The hygiene aspect is also considered. Accessories have smooth, rounded surfaces which are easy to clean, with minimal seams, reducing niches where bacteria can adhere. Well- maintained fixtures with clean bright surfaces are more likely to elicit care and respect from the user.
All of Delabie’s accessories have simple, ergonomic designs that minimise user effort, especially for those with reduced mobility. The lines are simple, to minimise
vandalism, but also to complement and coordinate with the sanitaryware. Made from durable materials, there is a range of finishes to provide a strong visual contrast with any chosen décor. Delabie’s accessories place user comfort and wellbeing at the forefront, ‘which means paying attention to the aesthetics’.
Delabie UK Ltd Henderson House Hithercroft Road Wallingford OX10 9DG Tel: 01491 824449
www.delabie.co.uk
October 2019 Health Estate Journal 5
the commercial market left me in no doubt that its healthcare customers now demand not just functional and practical excellence, but equally a standard of design that will reflect the first-class 21st-century care that their own customers – patients – now expect. This issue of HEJ will be published just before this year’s internationally-themed Healthcare Estates event opens in Manchester, and in addition to being able to learn and share experience via a packed and varied conference programme, visitors will be able to see and hear about some of the best in innovation and forward thinking from some 240 exhibiting companies. Healthcare Estates remains unique in the breath and influential nature of its attendees, and in bringing together in one place so many organisations serving the sector to showcase their products and expertise. Visitors to the annual flagship IHEEM event this year will be able to meet both the IHEEM and HEJ teams on the ‘main’ IHEEM stand, JI, at the exhibition entrance, so please come along and say ‘hello’, and let us know your news. We look forward to seeing you, and wish all attendees a successful and interesting show.
Jonathan Baillie I Editor
jonathanbaillie@stepcomms.com
health estate journal
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