A joint seminar hosted by City Building (Glasgow) LLP, one of Scotland's largest construction firms and its partner organisation, Stairlifts (Scotland) Ltd and SSL Access, was held in Glasgow on 11 June 2009.

Around 50 attendees, including community-based occupational therapists, representatives of local housing associations and members of their care and repair teams from all over the west of Scotland, heard expert presentations on how healthcare and construction professionals can work closer together in the provision of an all-encompassing service with a single point of enquiry and a one-stop shop in service delivery.

Working in partnership, the companies already deliver a range of works from simple tap replacements, assisted bathing devices and through-floor lifts to full house extensions - at a level that is unrivalled in this area of the construction industry.


The event comprised of two sessions; one on the assessment, prescribing and recycling use of shower chairs/cradles, aimed largely at the professional healthcare worker, and the other, on the installation of domestic over-head track hoists, focused on the specifier and construction professional. At the core of both sessions was the agreed need to speed-up delivery to clients and to increase front-end communication between all parties, to reduce costs and deliver 'right first time' solutions.

Lisa Melinda Barry, MD of Stairlifts (Scotland) Ltd and SSL Access said: "The day was highly successful. The time before and after the seminars allowed an opportunity to interact with key members of staff from the companies, to view some of the display stands and equipment and to discuss this unique single point delivery of the specialist adaptation services available to service users in both the private and social sectors.

"The feedback so far has been very positive ranging from: 'great networking opportunities' to 'when are you going to hold the next one?'"

Willie Docherty, MD of City Building (Glasgow) LLP, said: "These seminars are vital to ensuring we are consistently delivering the top level of service to our customers. They are a platform for demonstrating how working in partnership is providing best practice to all involved and I was delighted with the enthusiasm and interest shown by those who attended."

(GK/JM)