The Operating Theatre Journal - Journal - Page 20
Business school for
health recruits former
WHO advisor
UCL Global Business School for Health (GBSH)
has recruited Dr Kabir Sheikh, former Policy
Advisor for the World Health Organisation
(WHO), as Professor of Global Health Systems
and Policy.
Professor Sheikh, originally from India, is a
public health and health systems specialist
committed to building stronger, more
equitable health systems in low and middleincome countries. During his time with the
WHO, he led science, policy, and country
engagement at the Alliance for Health Policy
and Systems Research, WHO HQ, with a
footprint in 40 countries.
Bender Ireland expands team
to continue rapid growth
Bender is one of the world’s leading providers of solutions that make electrical infrastructures
smart and safer. With offices in 15 countries worldwide, Bender is always on the cutting edge of
design and new technology in sectors ranging from hospitals to data centres to electric vehicles,
always focussing on strengths and opportunities in specific regions.
In Ireland, Bender has a team who are dedicated to supporting new and existing customers with
sales, engineering, project management, maintenance, and technical support, primarily in the
delivery of turnkey projects for the hospital sector. Operating across the North and the Republic
of Ireland, the team is a dedicated business unit of Bender UK, based in Cumbria, England.
Growth and enhanced capability of the team has been boosted by new staff appointments and
expansion with additional contracts awarded across the region.
Bender is a global company, renowned for its ability to deliver high-quality, resilient electrical
infrastructure for hospitals. This includes the design and delivery of medical IT power and
battery back-up, to ensure safety for patients and staff, by guaranteeing a continuous supply of
power to acute medical areas.
“Strong health systems are
learning health systems and,
conversely, health system failures
often stem from learning failures”
For the WHO, Professor Sheikh has authored
a number of influential frameworks and
policies. He also serves on the editorial
boards for the British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Global Health, PLOS Global Health, and Social
Science and Medicine - Health Systems.
Professor Sheikh brings extensive experience
in higher education, including 20 years
of postgraduate teaching, academic
management, and research supervision
across various institutions around the world.
He also holds honorary appointments at
the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine (LSHTM), University of Melbourne,
Public Health Foundation of India, and BRAC
University Dhaka.
“Health systems across the world, especially
in the Global South, are undergoing rapid
transformations, driven by larger forces
such as urbanisation, proliferation of private
markets, and the digital revolution. However,
global scholarship has not kept up with the
pace of these transformations. The COVID-19
pandemic has exposed the critical role that
learning - or lack thereof - plays in the
ability of health systems, and indeed entire
societies, to withstand shocks and adapt to
change. Strong health systems are learning
health systems and, conversely, health
system failures often stem from learning
failures,” explains Professor Sheikh, who
will be teaching on the Global Healthcare
Management programme.
“UCL’s leadership is challenging traditional
academic norms by building a diverse faculty
with mixed talents, and promoting more
responsive and engaged ways of working. I
am honoured to contribute to that legacy
by collaborating with talented colleagues,
students, and partners to advance locally
relevant, globally significant learning on
health systems worldwide.”
Professor Nora Colton, Director of UCL
GBSH, states, “Professor Sheikh is a world
leader in global health systems and policy.
I am confident that his contribution to our
research and education in this area will be
impactful for societies worldwide.”
20
Bender is also a leading provider and installer of operating room equipment, including
touchscreen theatre control panels and third-party clinical pendants, surgical lights, operating
tables and PACS consoles for viewing patient scans, x-rays, and other data.
In addition, the Bender Ireland team supports more than 100 hospitals with annual 24/7
maintenance contracts, rapid response call-out and repair services, ensuring theatres and
critical areas do not suffer from a loss of downtime or interruption to services.
There is also a growing market for Bender electric vehicle charging technology, with Bender
components being designed into charging stations and electric transport produced by several
key players in this rapidly expanding sector. Alongside the EV market, Bender continues to offer
products designed to ensure resilient electrical supplies for industrial applications.
Chris Simmons, Regional Director at Bender Ireland, explains: “There is a huge appetite for
Bender technology across the Republic and Northern Ireland, and it has fuelled substantial growth
year-on-year over the past decade, and that looks set to continue. We have demonstrated an
innovative approach, tailoring technology to meet the needs of our clients, in collaboration with
our team based at the headquarter in Germany and in the UK.
“Bender Ireland has a strong team with fully qualified engineers and project managers who are
experts in their fields and administrative support to deliver a responsive service for customers.
The expansion of our business unit here means we can maintain growth in a manageable way and
continue to provide exceptional service and build on the strong relationships we have created
thus far.”
Within the hospital sector, the Bender Ireland team supports projects of all sizes, from turnkey
theatre upgrades to supply of Bender and third-party equipment such as clinical products and
UPS systems. In partnership with Mercury and BAM Ireland, Bender is providing the critical
power protection for the new Children’s Hospital, Dublin - the largest medical project in Ireland
for more than 20 years. Other recent projects include operating room upgrades at The Beaumont
Hospital with pendants, theatre control panels, and Merivaara Q-Flow™ LED operating lights and
equipping new operating theatres at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in Cork.
At Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway, two new elective orthopaedic theatres were
equipped with Bender state-of-the-art operating theatre equipment, advanced medical IT power
systems, and residual current monitoring devices for ultimate resilience and safety.
Chris Simmons adds: “With support from Bender UK and the new depth of expertise and
experience within our team, we are confident that we can deliver a class-leading speed of
response and range of supporting services for clients across Ireland.”
For more information on the full range of Bender UK products and services,
visit www.bender-uk.com
THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL
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