The Operating Theatre journal April 2021

Medical Air Technology (MAT) is the main contractor on Wansbeck
Hospital’s current refurbishment project, which sees the turnkey
upgrade of six operating theatres including recovery, clean corridor
and adjacent auxiliary areas. The theatres have been reconfigured for
better workflow, with new ventilation to HTM 03-01, medical gases,
electrical installation, doors, furniture, sanitaryware and finishes.
They will all be equipped with MAT’s flagship product, the ECO-flow
ultraclean ventilation (UCV) system, and a range of surgical equipment
from Bender UK including operating lights and theatre control panels.
Operated by the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust,
Wansbeck Hospital is a centre of excellence for planned and ongoing
care. It performs almost 7,000 operations every year, around half of
which are orthopaedic operations such as hip and knee replacements.
The refurbishment will provide the hospital with more ultraclean
operating theatres, enabling a wider range of surgery and improving
patient flow and other efficiencies.
Despite the pressures of working under the restraints of the coronavirus
pandemic, the project got off to a flying start. The phased delivery
programme is scheduled for completion in spring 2022, with Theatres 5
and 6 leading the way with expected handover in May 2021. The £5.5
million new facilities will further improve patient care and experience
at this already outstanding hospital.
Mr Scott Muller, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and lead for the
project, says: “We have a highly skilled workforce who deliver
surgical care to people from across the region and beyond. With this
investment, our theatres will become a state-of-the art facility that
reflect the highest standards of care that our patients rightly expect.
This redevelopment will ensure the facility remains best in class
thereby cementing Wansbeck hospital as a major provider of elective
surgery for years to come.”
The MAT ECO-flow UCV System
The ECO-flow ultraclean ventilation system uses laminar airflow,
delivered via a canopy above the operating table and surgical team, to
create a clean zone around the patient. ‘Clean zone’ means it is free
from bacteria-carrying airborne particles, significantly reducing the
risk of surgical site infection (SSI). SSI occurs when a surgical incision
site becomes infected after a procedure. It is associated not only with
increased morbidity but also with substantial mortality and places a
massive clinical and financial burden on the NHS.
MAT WORKS WITH WANSBECK HOSPITAL TO
DELIVER £5.5M OPERATING THEATRE UPGRADE
MAT canopies are available in two standard models, depending on
the size of clean zone required. Wansbeck Hospital has selected the
ECO-flow 2.8m for Theatres 1-4, and the larger ECO-flow 3.2m for
Theatres 5-6. The theatre converts from general to ultraclean in under
an hour, allowing for greater flexibility of use. Ultraclean conditions
create the best environment for orthopaedic surgery and are specified
in HTM 03-01, Specialised Ventilation for Healthcare Premises.
A Specialist Contractor
MAT designs, manufactures and installs bespoke critical ventilation
systems and turnkey project solutions for new build and refurbishment
projects. As a specialist contractor with many years’ experience,
we are passionately committed to improving patient protection and
end-user safety in demanding clinical, research and drug production
arenas. We have extensive experience of working in live environments
and understand the challenges around delivering a project within an
operational scenario.
In addition, MAT FM provides a range of competitively priced and highly
effective service and maintenance packages for all core products and
turnkey solutions offered by MAT or other suppliers, ensuring that
equipment is maintained, serviced and validated correctly for optimum
performance.
Further information: Will Evans, 0844 871 2100
will.evans@medicalairtechnology.com
When responding please quote ‘OTJ’
NHS contact centre wins awards at two highly
acclaimed events in space of a week
NHS Business Services Authority’s (NHSBSA) Contact Centre has won
no less than three awards recently at the national Excellence Awards
organised by CCA Global, the professional customer services body.
NHSBSA won Gold for the Team of the Year Award category and Dan
Britton, Head of Customer Operations, won the Manager of the Year
Award. Dan Britton and Service Delivery Manager, Mark McMahon,
were also recognised as Members of the Year, for supporting other
organisations and sharing best practice in customer care. (19th March
2021)
The news follows another big success for NHSBSA’s contact centre which
won the ‘Contact Centre of the Year’ award at the European Contact
Centre and Customer Service Awards 2020 just earlier that week.
The CCA Excellence Awards recognise world-class professional
achievement in customer service and are judged by a panel of experts
from a range of sectors and specialisms, with final deliberation by a
fifty-strong peer judging committee.
NHSBSA, which has headquarters in Newcastle, was shortlisted for no
less than four awards by CCA Global this year. Manager of the Year (Head
of Customer Operations Dan Britton); Team of the Year; Outstanding
Homeworking Programme Award; and the Outstanding Team Award.
Brendan Brown, Director of Citizen Services, said: “It’s great to see the
outstanding efforts of our NHSBSA colleagues being acknowledged in so
many categories this year. I wish to praise everyone’s hard work and
amazing efforts, well done!”
Dan Britton, Head of Customer Operations, added: “I’m so proud
yet again of the recognition our teams are receiving through being
shortlisted for awards, and in this case a national award.”
CCA Chief Executive Anne Marie Forsyth said: “Many congratulations to
all the shortlisted entrants who truly represent the best in customer
service. Businesses in the CCA network have been working tirelessly
through incredibly challenging times to ensure they continue to provide
the best service possible for customers.”
“Many lessons have been learned and it is a real privilege to discover
the approaches taken to safeguard excellent practices, supporting
customers and employees through a significant period of uncertainty.”
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