NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has published a free guide in response to the findings of its recent Space Optimisation Survey. This revealed that nearly nine in ten NHS leaders have low to medium awareness of how their estate is currently being used, indicating that few are fully optimising their clinical and other spaces. In addition, over 50% lack the full and comprehensive data needed to make informed decisions.
The NHS Estate Optimisation Guide has been developed to help NHS leaders and estate managers to navigate the pressing challenge of making the most of the places and spaces that support patient care.
As the NHS continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of communities, the ability to deliver care in the right environments is becoming just as critical as funding, and is something the 10-year Health Plan is expected to touch on.
Simon Taylor, Director Estates Policy, Strategy & Capital Projects at NHSPS explains: “Estate optimisation is now critical to meeting patient need and NHS reform. This guide provides NHS leaders with the right practical steps to unlock the full potential of their estate, using the expertise and knowledge of the property experts across NHSPS and the wider system.”
Better understanding
The new guide outlines a clear, flexible framework for assessing space demand and property supply, understanding space utilisation and weighing options for transformation, savings and reinvestment. It also includes expert insights from across NHSPS teams and partners, with contributions from Jenny O’Donnell, Infrastructure, Capital, Estates and Sustainability Lead at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, and Vissy Patel, Senior Designer at Ryder Architecture.
The NHS Estate Optimisation Guide is available as a download to NHS leaders and estate professionals.
