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Information of Healthcare Engineering Systems

Background

Healthcare engineering systems, namely electrical installations, specialized ventilation systems, and medical gas supplies, are essential facilities for safe delivery of medical services. Both hospital and day procedure centre are required to equip with the healthcare engineering systems to ensure a safe healthcare services therein.

The work process involved in engineering and construction for healthcare facilities, from planning to execution, often entails the engagement of service providers (e.g. consultant / contractor / relevant professional with healthcare engineering experience) to carry out design, installation and testing & commissioning for healthcare engineering systems and offer professional opinion in compliance with the provision of relevant ordinances, codes of practice, internationally acceptable standards and providing professional service as necessary. In general, apart from direct appointment of independent professional (e.g. Registered Professional Engineer (RPE)), this website integrated the following service providers in which the hospital and day procedure centre may consider to approach for professional advice at various stages for design / installation / testing / certification. (The relevant archives of the service providers are maintained by other government departments and other institutions)

With the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres (2023 Edition) published by the Department of Health in January 2023, the requirements of specific healthcare engineering systems (i.e. electrical installation, specialized ventilation system and medical gas supplies) of day procedure centres form part of the regulatory standard accordingly. As a transitional arrangement, such requirements will take effect from 1 January 2028.

It is imperative for the prospective applicants or existing day procedure centres to collaborate with the engineering service providers so as to ensure that all relevant requirements pertaining to the healthcare engineering systems are adhered to. To this end, we have compiled A Practical Guide for Healthcare Engineering Systems in Day Procedure Centres and associated pamphlet for the trade practitioners and stakeholders, such as licensees of day procedure centre, registered professional engineers, consulting engineers, healthcare engineering installation contractors and property management personnel. These publications, though not exhaustive, outline the key points to note regarding the design, installation, operation and maintenance of healthcare engineering systems of day procedure centres at various stages, specifies DOs and DON'Ts for compliance with the regulatory requirements, and includes some other useful information.

On the other hand, many dental day procedure centres require compressed air to power dental instruments and a vacuum system to remove detritus from the operation site. Where dental compressed air and vacuum systems (DAVS) are installed in day procedure centres, licensee or operator of this private healthcare facilities may refer to the Guidelines for Dental Compressed Air and Vacuum System for general guidance on the design and installation of such systems. These publications in respect of day procedure centre setting can be found at Annex III in Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres (2023 Edition).

To facilitate prospective applicants of day procedure centre licence and existing day procedure centres familiarizing with the key elements of these systems, we have also compiled A Practical Guide for Dental Compressed Air and Vacuum Systems in Day Procedure Centres and associated pamphlet in order to outline the key points to note regarding proper design, installation, operation and maintenance of these system, including the DOs and DON'Ts for achieving the safety and health of healthcare facilities.

When carrying out the installation of healthcare engineering systems, some building construction works (e.g. demolition, alteration and addition works) might also be involved. Registered General Building Contractor / Minor Works Contractor shall also be appointed by the hospital and day procedure centre to carry out these building construction works in order to satisfy the requirements under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) and relevant regulations / codes of practice. Professional advice on building construction can be sought from building professional via a referral by the appointed engineering consultant / contractor, where necessary. If verification of the registration status of a building professional in relevant discipline (e.g. Authorised Person prescribed by Buildings Department) is considered necessary, the Buildings Department's website for the Registered Professionals or Contractors Search can be referred.