LEADERSHIP FORUM

Fantastic 2023 Forum 

Running throughout our 2023 National Leadership Forum, the theme of change, leading change and welcoming the opportunities brought through taking a different approach was clearly evident. From the opening keynote address, delivered by Dr Suzy Walton, who explained a CAN attitude – Courage, Audacity and Nerve – through to the nitty gritty of delivering capital programmes across the estate, transforming service provision, and challenging the way facilities services are assessed, change was ever present. 

The Forum also heard about what is to come, through integrated care systems, HEFMA’s ongoing workstreams, and collaborative efforts between NHS England and other representative bodies on workforce development. 

On the day that the Health Secretary announced that all RAAC hospitals would be brought into the New Hospital Programme, the NHS England Q&A session discussed the need for ongoing change in many areas, for instance, strengthening data so it can be used to build a case for investment - which was done successfully in the case of the RAAC hospitals - as well as a different approach to the allocation of decarbonisation funding, and focusing on business continuity in areas where the NHS is vulnerable, such as laundry and decontamination services.

Director and Head of Profession for NHS Estates and Facilities, Simon Corben, issued a challenge around the provision of food for carers whilst they are in hospital with a patient. Inspired by Sophie’s Legacy - the charity set up by Charlotte Fairall, whose 10-year daughter, Sophie, died from cancer - improving the availability of food and drink for parents or carers is something which is within the power of estates and facilities teams to deliver, paid for Simon suggested, by reducing food waste and its associated cost. NHS England fully supports Sophie’s Legacy. There will be more about this in the July/August issue of the Pulse magazine.

The inspirational Amar Latif gave everyone much to think about, including how the NHS provides services for blind people. Did you know that 66% of blind people in the country, of working age, are unemployed? Amar had to think out of the box to secure his first job, turning the interview process into a presentation about he could do the job of an accountant even though he was blind. Many feel they shouldn’t have to fight so hard, but Amar’s message was that the world isn’t fair. “You either sit on the sidelines and let life pass you by, or you roll up your sleeves and get stuck in,” he said.

Drawing the Forum to a close, HEFMA’s National Chair Kay Mulcahy reviewed the many strands of change that had been addressed over the two days, reflecting on the key takeaway message, to have the courage to change and transform.

A full review of the Forum will be published in the July/August issue of the Pulse magazine.

Logged-in members can access some of the presentations from the Forum in the ‘My Region’ section of this website.

Pictured: Forum Host from the London & South East Branch, Ian Daccus.