Editor’s message

As part of the editorial team for this excellent publication, there was excitement that the 2021 Spring edition of Healthcare Facilities would be available in hard copy print, in the expectation of it being released in advance of the IHEA National Conference. Sadly, and has become a familiar story over the past 18 months, the implications of COVID restrictions on travel has required the IHEA Board and Conference Organising Committee to make a tough call to again defer our planned gathering in Perth.

The theme for the planned IHEA National Conference in Perth, was 21st Century Healthcare Engineering, so despite the delay in getting together in person, it is great to pre-empt this theme with some of the content in this edition…P32 Intelligent Systems, P45 Embracing Digital Transformation of Healthcare, P51 Remote Building Operation, P57 Proton Therapy … all focus on emerging technologies that rely on and support modern approaches to healthcare engineering.

Together with these articles on technology, I am delighted to be able to share with you this edition in a hard copy publication. Special thanks to Adbourne Publishing for making this possible again. Despite the present situation in many parts of Australia, it is great to see in the early pages of this journal, reports IHEA members making the best of opportunities to get together for professional development events. WA enjoyed an excellent country conference in Kalgoorlie; QLD hosted a mid-year conference in Brisbane and SA brought together an excellent team for a seminar on water and environmental health risks.

Amongst the news and articles, we share with you technology and advice from our supporters and sponsors. Please take the time to visit their websites, and consider how the people who support IHEA, might be able to support you in the daily challenges of healthcare engineering.

To all of our members across the country who are doing it tough through the pandemic, remember that the IHEA is here to support you, and to maintain important networking and professional development opportunities, so keep an eye out for coming events as we move through 2021. It would seem that the pathway out of the present restrictions is the vaccination program that is gaining momentum across the country and we hope that this facilitates the move back to the freedoms we all once took for granted. If the targets of state and national health departments are achieved, we look forward to being together in Perth in May 2022, for the IHEA National Conference.

Regards Darryl Pitcher – Editor