| Reducing the spread of bacteria in hospitals is a | | | | amiable. Architects HOK worked carefully with the |
| critical task. Armitage Shanks taps and basins, | | | | project contractors to create the en-suite |
| recently fitted in the Alexander wing of the royal | | | | bathrooms attractive as well as practical, |
| London hospital, are playing their part in helping to | | | | specifying high quality Armitage Shanks ceramics |
| defeat this aggressive enemy. | | | | which have a lifespan that exceeds the hospital |
| Everything about our National Health Service is on | | | | refurbishment cycle. |
| a lavish scale. It is the largest organisation in | | | | The laminate panels can be removed when |
| Europe; in a typical week, more than 800,000 | | | | maintenance is needed. Almost any colour |
| people will be treated in NHS hospital outpatient | | | | combination is possible, obviously we stayed within |
| clinics, over 10,000 babies will be delivered by the | | | | the modern disability discrimination act guiding |
| NHS, and NHS surgeons will perform around 1,200 | | | | principle concerning colour contrast. |
| hip operations, 3,000 heart operations and 1,050 | | | | In these sort of highly utilized areas it makes |
| kidney operations. And, although over 1.4 million | | | | sense to apply a quality product rather than a |
| people get treated at home by NHS staff each | | | | cheaper import. |
| and every week, it is fated that for some a | | | | The infection fight was never far from the minds |
| hospital stay will be on the cards one of the | | | | of the fashion and installation team and products |
| reasons that a major up-to-the-minute hospital | | | | were selected with this factor in mind. One of the |
| building and refurbishment programme is under | | | | simplest ways to transfer infection is by the |
| technique. Britain's biggest private money Initiative | | | | humble tap or mixer. The modern Markwik range |
| (PFI) hospital project, with a budget of £1.1 | | | | reduces contact transmission by eliminating the |
| billion and a ten-year programme, is the | | | | places where infectious bacteria conceal. Contact |
| transformation of healthcare facilities at the St | | | | of any kind can be prevented if a mixer with |
| Bartholomew's and Royal London hospitals. The | | | | either a proximity sensor or a time flow sensor is |
| Alexander Wing in the Royal London hospital has | | | | fitted. The proximity sensor is activated by the |
| just been fitted with 32 new en-suite bathrooms | | | | user's hand movement within the range of its |
| and wash stations, part of a '100 bed enabling | | | | sensor. It switches off the water when hand |
| project', featuring products from the HTM 64 | | | | movement stops or moves out of sensor range; |
| compliant Armitage Shanks range. Although just a | | | | this is predominantly sufficient in areas where |
| small part of the 'Bart's Scheme', as the | | | | water saving is esteemed. With the time flow |
| development is referred to, the Alexander Wing | | | | sensor which is similarly activated by moving a |
| provides a tremendous specimen of the high | | | | hand over the sensor, the water will flow for a |
| standard of equipment being used throughout the | | | | predetermined length of time, set when installing |
| project. In redeveloping the Alexander Wing the | | | | the equipment. This is particularly appropriate for |
| aim was to supply private hygiene facilities that | | | | clinical scrub up areas. |
| would be long lasting, easy to preserve and user | | | | |