While Covid-19 appears to be here to stay and many of the challenges the country has faced remain; in many respects it seems as though we are moving into the next phase, towards business as usual. It is a good time to reflect on the past few months and consider what getting back to ‘normal’ might look like.
It is certainly an interesting time to be involved in the delivery of healthcare infrastructure. Over the past 4-5 months, it has been remarkable to see how the pandemic has acted as a catalyst for innovating and implementing new, creative healthcare facility solutions that can solve immediate capacity problems and help to increase resilience in the longer term.
This edition of Healthcare Spaces brings together a selection of thought-provoking articles covering; the state of healthcare in Australia pre-Covid; the impacts of Covid-19 on elective surgery activity and the bowel cancer screening programme; and exciting new healthcare facility solutions developed as a direct result of Covid-19 related needs and challenges.
We also take a look at the upcoming new sterilisation standards and the role of modular buildings in healthcare. A mobile or modular healthcare facility is so much more than just a temporary building – an operating theatre, for example, is a complex piece of engineering with a multitude of service connections. It needs to comply with strict specifications and regulations, not just when commissioned, but on an ongoing basis. As a critical part of a hospital’s healthcare infrastructure, it is crucial that the unit, and the equipment within it, performs at an optimal level at all times.
Another topic featured in the Spring edition is the importance of planning for disasters and ensuring continuity of service in the case of an unexpected event, such as a catastrophic fire or a future pandemic.
We are pleased to support Q-bital with a range of engineering and manufacturing services, enabling the delivery of effective flexible healthcare solutions that allow hospitals to recover service levels more rapidly.
Stephen Moss
General Manager for Varley Vehicles, Queensland
Guest Editor, Healthcare Spaces Q3 Newsletter
