RECENT NEWS
Over 100 key ‘transformational’ projects set for delivery
NHS Property Services has announced that over the next three years it will deliver over 100 key ‘transformational’ projects that will ‘make essential improvements to the healthcare estate for the benefit of patients, and healthcare professionals'.- News
Reducing ligature risk in mental healthcare settings
A webinar being held at 2 pm on Monday 26th October, 2020 will see Trevor Santer, Intastop’s National Sales Manager, highlight some of the research and collaboration that has seen the company develop its SECURA ‘Protecting People’ range.- News
PM confirms £3.7 billion for 40 hospitals in major building programme
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has confirmed that 40 hospitals will be built by 2030 as part of a package worth £3.7 billion, while the proponents of further eight schemes have been invited to bid for future funding.- News
Change of leadership and ‘re-shaping’ at Imtech
Imtech, jointly owned by EDF and Dalkia, has announced changes to its leadership and organisation as it ‘re-shapes’ to better meet the rapidly evolving market conditions across its business sectors and build on its diversified growth strategy.- News
Views sought on new Glan Clwyd inpatient unit
Plans for a new inpatient mental health unit in Denbighshire have gone on display to the public.- News
£10 m learning disability unit opens
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust has officially opened a new low secure Learning Disability Residential Unit at Tatchbury Mount in Calmore in Hampshire.- News
Manufacturers urged to digitise product data to reduce risk
A new initiative aims to get manufacturers in the construction industry to take ownership of their product information, with a series of articles being produced and manufacturers being encouraged to join a discussion group to share their views.- News
CIC launches Design Quality Indicator for Health 2
The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has launched an updated version of its design quality evaluation tool, the Design Quality Indicator for Health 2 (DQIfH2).- News
Mammoth-sized Safevents chosen for St Ann’s Hospital redevelopment
Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust have chosen the latest iteration of Britplas’ Safevent window for the new buildings at St Ann’s Hospital in Haringey as part of a significant redevelopment project at the site.- News
Mersey Care takes ownership of new Rowan View MSU on Merseyside
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has taken ownership of the keys for Rowan View, its new ‘state-of-the art' medium secure unit on the Maghull Health Park on Merseyside.- News
First female winner of regional construction study award
Claire Ryan, an Estates officer at mental health / disability services provider, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has become the first female winner of a regional award which recognises her commitment to the study of construction.- News
A successful Digital Week with an international flavour
With the 2020 Design in Mental Health Conference, Exhibition and Dinner postponed to November due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Design in Mental Health Network held a Digital Week from 8-12 June, comprising webinars presented by key sector experts.- News
Poole eating disorders unit gets planning permission
A new Eating Disorders Unit in Poole providing specialist eating disorders care to the population of Dorset and the South West of England has gained planning consent.- News
‘Multi-technology’ IoT location tracking platform
RFiD Discovery, part of Paragon ID, a provider of identification solutions, has partnered with geolocation specialist, Apitrak, to develop a ‘multi-technology’ cloud-hosted IoT platform ‘for the tracking of assets, inventory, and people’.- News
Product testing guidance will fill a key ‘gap’
With the safety of service-users in mental health inpatient units critical, and often affected by the products selected for the built environment, coupled with what it perceives as a lack, to date, of clear guidance on product selection, ‘or the ability to assess multiple options to improve such spaces’, the Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN) has ‘partnered’ with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to launch a new guidance document, Informed Choices: Testing Guidance for Products in Mental Health Facilities.- News
Sliding windows give ‘stunning results’ at new £13. 5 m Maidstone facility
Leading secure window provider for medical establishments, Crittall-Fendor, says it worked closely with the architects throughout the design phase of Cygnet Healthcare’s Cygnet Hospital Maidstone, supplying both its CleanVent and AlphaLine sliding windows for the £13.5 m facility. The low-level secure and rehabilitation unit, comprising four wards for up to 65 male and female patients, was designed by designed by Tangram Architects, a London-based practice specialising in facilities for medical and police services.- News
Can Far Infrared heating combat fight COVID-19?
Technology company, IOBAC, is calling for help to explore the potential for Far Infrared (FIR) heating to help prevent and fight RNA viruses, including coronavirus (COVID-19), following its recent investigation into the availability of scientific studies on ‘the proven health benefits’ of FIR.- News
Testing guidance should enable informed buying choice
The Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN) and the BRE say that, following the BRE Board’s detailed scrutiny of the two organisations’ jointly-produced draft guidance on performance testing of products used in mental healthcare settings, they aim to publish the final guidance document, Informed Choices. Testing Guidance for Products in Mental Health Facilities, by the end of this month (April 2020).- News
Mental health support during the coronavirus outbreak
In recognition of what it dubs ‘the unprecedented challenges which the COVID-19 outbreak and extended periods of self-isolation can pose’, Public Health England has published new online guidance setting out principles to follow to help people manage their mental health ‘during this difficult time’. Key suggestions include: Maintaining contact with friends and family via telephone and video calls, or social media; Keeping a regular routine and sleeping pattern; Focusing on a hobby or learning something new.- News
Planning permission granted for new Wallgate factory
Planning permission has been granted by Wiltshire Council for washroom and sanitaryware product specialist, Wallgate’s new factory premises, to be built on a greenfield site at High Post, near Salisbury. Building work is planned to start ‘ahead of this autumn’, and the new factory should be operational by late 2021.- News