Medical Gases

IHEEM is currently in the consultation phase of a voluntary register for Authorising Engineers (Med Gas). The following article will be appearing in the Health Estate Journal in May.

Bill Millar, Project Director with United Lincolnshire Hospitals and Chairman of the AE(MGPS) Panel writes on the latest developments in the setting up of the Authorising Engineer (Medical Gas Pipeline Systems) Register.

The Department of Health have recently initiated a review of the Hospital Technical Memorandum documents and as part of this review the structure of HTM’s have been simplified.  The new series of engineering specific guidance contained in the HTMs will in future be set out in a suite of 9 core subjects. These are listed below:

  • HTM 00 Policies & Principles
  • HTM 01 Decontamination
  • HTM 02 Medical Gases
  • HTM 03 Heating & Ventilation
  • HTM 04 Water Systems
  • HTM 05 Fire Safety
  • HTM 06 Electrical Services
  • HTM 07 Environment & Sustainability
  • HTM 08 Specialist Services

HTM00 Policy and Principles identifies how Managers of healthcare property and services need technical and professional support across a range of specialist services. It states how this support should be embraced into the structure and responsibility framework of the organisation to ensure an adequate approach for each of the areas covered by the healthcare specific technical engineering guidance. Within the Health Technical Memoranda, a range of measures are discussed to meet the needs of each service and consideration is given to the principles, standards and common features that will be applicable as a core approach. All these topics are covered in each of the HTMs as part of the operational management of the specific services:

  • Management and Responsibility
  • Guidance Structure
  • Management Structure
  • Professional Structure
  • Roles and Responsibilities

As part of the review of the HTM’s the Roles and Responsibilities of the Management Structure in each Healthcare Organisation have been defined and where possible in the specific HTM’s the consistency of the Management of the Roles and Responsibilities of key personnel have been replicated.

Authorising Engineer is a new title for those who may have been acting in a similar capacity and now gives them a defined role within the structure of a Healthcare organisation.  According to HTM00 the AE will act as an independent professional adviser to the healthcare organisation. The AE should be appointed by the organisation with a brief to provide services in accordance with Health Technical Memorandum guidance. This may vary in accordance with the specialist service being supported. The AE will act as assessor and make recommendations for the appointment of Authorised Persons, monitor the performance of the service, and provide an annual audit to the Designated Person. To effectively carry out this role, particularly with regard to audit, it is preferable that the AE remains independent of the operational structure of the trust.

HTM02-01 part B describes how, in most organisations, the Authorised Person (MGPS) will take responsibility for the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the MGPS operational policy, and will involve senior medical and nursing personnel and as such will retain effective responsibility for day-to-day management of the MGPS. Independent to the organisation an AE(MGPS) will have specialist knowledge of MGPS, in particular the MGPS for which an Authorised Person (MGPS) will assume responsibility on appointment. It goes on to describe that the AE(MGPS) acts, and is employed, independently of organisations submitting potential Authorised Persons (MGPS) for assessment. The Authorising Engineer (MGPS) will, subsequent to performing an assessment of a potential Authorised Person (MGPS), recommend to the Executive Manager of the submitting organisation either that the person is able to proceed to written appointment or requires further training.

HTM02-01 also makes reference to the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management maintaining a voluntary register for Authorising Engineers (MGPS).  IHEEM is currently developing proposals for the implementation of a Voluntary Register for Authorising Engineers (MGPS).  A working group has been established by IHEEM to formulate the Terms of Reference for the appointing panel together with the Code of Conduct which Authorising Engineers (MGPS) will be required to follow.

Whilst the HTM guidelines are applicable in England only, IHEEM has been working with representatives from the Devolved Authorities to ensure that the AE(MGPS) register will hold relevance in their respective regions. It is intended that the register will be UK wide allowing registrants to practice throughout the UK. 

The register will allow those practising the AE(MGPS) role formal recognition and enable them to show that they have been assessed through a peer group to a high level of competency and professionalism. Registering with IHEEM will show that the individual is competent in his knowledge of Medical Gas Pipeline Systems by having undertaken an accredited training course and by keeping their CPD up to date. An AE(MGPS) registered with IHEEM will also be able to demonstrate their professionalism by being bound by a Code of Conduct of Good Practice.

The working group is currently liaising with a number of training providers in order to establish an accredited training course for Authorising Engineers (MGPS).  In addition, the administrative framework for IHEEM to manage the voluntary register is also being developed.  The proposed date for implementation of the voluntary register is early in 2009. A further article will appear in this Journal in October to advertise for applicants who wish to be considered for the Voluntary Register.  Successful applicants will be included in the Voluntary Register for a period of three years after which there will be a process of reassessment before a further period of registration is allowed.

Further information regarding the Voluntary Register for Authorising Engineers (MGPS) can be obtained from the Chairman of the Panel, Bill Millar:  Email: bill.millar@ulh.nhs.uk or Tel: 01522 577220, alternatively please contact Louise Corfield, louise.corfield@iheem.org.uk or on 02392 823186. If you have previously registered your interest then you do not need do so again.