Experts unveil step-by-step plan to improving the efficiency of NHS estates
HEALTHCARE estates experts have drawn up a plan to help NHS trusts make the most out of existing building stock in the wake of a curb on capital spending.
Built asset consultancy, EC Harris, has put together the guidance at a time when the spate of large-scale projects is coming to an end and funding for improvements to current facilities is increasingly hard to secure.
The solution was unveiled at BBH’s Healthcare Infrastructure 2011 conference in Birmingham earlier this week, providing a step-by-step guide to help trusts adapt their estates to meet the demands of the revamped NHS and produce cash savings through more-efficient use of space and changes to service delivery.
To date trusts have used capital schemes to try and alleviate problems and improve best practice. Funding is being reduced, so it will be much more about routine maintenance from here on in
Conor Ellis, EC Harris’s head of health sector, said: “To date trusts have used capital schemes to try and alleviate problems and improve best practice. Funding is being reduced, so it will be much more about routine maintenance from here on in.
“Currently there are huge gaps between the best and worst estates in the country and things can be done to improve this, and they can be done relatively quickly. There is an enormous amount of money to be saved through better use of the estate.”
While he admitted there was ‘no magic bullet’ and that the route trusts take would differ from area to area, he added that the step-by-step plan would provide a springboard for action.
He said: “It’s not about having an old NHS estate; it is much more about how we manage that. We have allowed history to dictate that estate costs don’t matter, but in the new climate we cannot take this view.
“We work with a lot of NHS trusts and people are open to ideas. The reality is that putting good processes together makes a fundamental change. If we can achieve the mean, we can save significant amounts of money and doing this in estates terms is not that difficult.”
“It’s not about having an old NHS estate; it is much more about how we manage that. We have allowed history to dictate that estate costs don’t matter, but in the new climate we cannot take this view
The guide lays out a number of steps organisations can take to help put together an overview of how the estate can help to enhance service delivery. These include the need to carry out demand and capacity reviews, sustainability audits and FM service and supply chain reviews.
Ellis said: “If it were possible through improved use of estates to release 50% of the space, it would equate to annual revenue savings of just in excess of £248m a year and would have a potential capital receipt value of £1.08billion.”
The guide includes detailed tables showing the possible savings across mental health, acute and PCT estates. Short-term goals trusts are advised to work towards include:
- Benchmarking data
- Carrying out comprehensive risk assessments
- Introducing revenue-saving programmes
- Creating a transformational and future organisation operating plan
- Optimising estate costs through collaboration between organisations
In the medium-term options include bringing in new operating models, altering supply chains and increasing collaborative procurement, for example with local authorities, and disposing of land as markets allow.