One thing that’s often forgotten in the constant public discussion around the NHS is the service’s sheer size. Our health service is the biggest single employer in Europe – comprising more than 1.7 million highly skilled professionals up and down the UK. When it comes to sustainability concerns, this of course doesn’t exclude it from

Published in February 2023, the NHS Net Zero Building Standard (NHS NZBS) represents a critical step towards sustainable, energy-efficient healthcare facilities in the UK, supporting the NHS’s goal of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2040. The scale of the sustainability challenge facing the NHS is underlined by the fact that its estate currently accounts

In healthcare environments, the balance between anti-scalding safety and the risk of Legionella infection is a perennial issue. Temperature control regimes have always been crucial for managing the risk of waterborne infection while mitigating the risk of scalding. Thermostatic mixing valves (that comply with NHS D08 performance specifications, i.e. are TMV3-approved) have typically played a

In the high-stakes environment of UK hospitals, where every second counts, the role of a Building Management System (BMS) cannot be overstated. This sophisticated network of interconnected systems ensures the safety, health, and operational efficiency of hospital facilities. When these systems function correctly, they provide the backbone for seamless healthcare delivery. However, when they fail

In the complex and demanding environment of healthcare facilities, particularly within the NHS, the reliable and safe operation of steam boilers is paramount. Indeed, ensuring the safety and efficiency of boiler houses is not just a legal requirement, but a vital aspect of maintaining uninterrupted healthcare services. Steam is an indispensable utility in healthcare environments,

For almost 15 years, MIG Medical has been at the forefront of healthcare construction and engineering, specialising in fit-out and medical gas installations that ensure medical settings meet the highest clinical standards. Building on this legacy, we have recently proudly launched the UK’s first Healthcare Innovation Centre — a leading hub for clinical design in

Two years ago I wrote an article for HEJ titled ‘Badly maintained buildings can be a risk for all’,1 highlighting the significant concern around the level of backlog maintenance, and the potential for impact on patients and staff alike. At this point the financial position of backlog was £9.2 bn, with the critical infrastructure risk

Participants Taking part in the roundtable were: Chair, Steve Batson, Studio director and Sector Lead for Healthcare, Stephen George + Partners. Phil Morrison, Partner, Clarion. Steve Crow, Business Development director, Clarion. Trevor Rogers, Regulatory specialist, LABC. Andrew Varley, Director, International Facilities, Steris. Dean Payton, Associate, Stephen George + Partners. Stuart Dalton, Programme manager, Hive Projects.

Participants Taking part in the roundtable were: Chair, Steve Batson, Studio director and Sector Lead for Healthcare, Stephen George + Partners. Phil Morrison, Partner, Clarion. Steve Crow, Business Development director, Clarion. Trevor Rogers, Regulatory specialist, LABC. Andrew Varley, Director, International Facilities, Steris. Dean Payton, Associate, Stephen George + Partners. Stuart Dalton, Programme manager, Hive Projects.

With over 40 years’ electrical engineering experience, of which much of the last 20 have been spent advising NHS Estates managers, it’s clear to me that there are wide variations in the condition of healthcare estates. Some estates have modernised, but there are many where critical resilience relies on the performance of 40- or 50-year-old

 NHS Property Services is celebrating the delivery of 100 social prescribing sites to its partners across the country. One of the final projects to be completed, Ashfield Community Hub in Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, opened in July 2024, and now provides an accessible space for community groups and social prescribing link workers designed with their

 The fact that the Government needed to tell us how to wash our hands properly during the pandemic highlighted that there is a huge gap in infection control knowledge among the vast majority of the general population. COVID-19 led to a dramatic turning point in the general awareness of infection prevention and control (IPC) as

 Architects, design teams, construction companies, and manufacturers; the skills of you all are required in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Surely – such personnel might think – this is a mistake? Is this indeed not the province of pharmaceutical companies, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and veterinarians? While the latter professionals undoubtedly have an important role,

The evolution of global healthcare models requires a profound rethinking of healthcare infrastructures as an opportunity to interpret the multiple instances that are transforming contemporary paradigms at a social, economic, and environmental level. The global challenges of our time — such as ageing population, inclusive design, Artificial Intelligence, and climate change and urbanisation, may find

Critical ventilation systems, i.e. those serving areas that cannot function safely without such systems (for a full list see HTM 03-01 a, paragraph 4.311) in healthcare premises, when designed, installed, and maintained correctly, help control the spread of airborne pathogens through the dilution and removal of contaminated air. Not all systems comply with current standards,