Norland signs estates and facilities management contract for Berkshire trust
Facilities management specialist to maintain buildings, grounds, engineering systems and specialist equipment
Facilities management company, Norland, has been appointed by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust to maintain its buildings, grounds, critical engineering systems and specialist equipment.
As part of the contract, Norland will also undertake related infection control and health and safety activities as well as estate energy management and extra works.
The deal covers the trust’s accident and emergency units, specialist departments, acute, paediatric and maternity units and support services.
One of the largest general hospital foundation trusts in the country, the organisation provides acute medical and surgical services to patients in Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham and west Berkshire and specialist services across Berkshire and its borders. The trust’s estate includes 607 acute, 44 paediatric and 57 maternity post natal beds; operating theatres; specialist departments such as pathology, radiology and mental health’ retail areas; and a children’s centre.
Norland’s work will include ensuring operating theatres run between 7am-7pm without problem and that the renal unit is operational each day until midnight. It will also ensure that equipment remains in good working order, including sterilisation and decontamination units, hydrotherapy pools, nurse call systems, panic alarms, uninterrupted power supply, patient hoists, catering equipment and emergency lighting.
Commenting on the contract, Philip Holmes, director of estates and facilities management at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The delivery of frontline healthcare services has never been more challenging than currently. We are pleased to be working with Norland to drive ongoing compliance across our various sites, as well as ensuring value for money."
The contract is a managed service covering grounds and gardens maintenance in addition to engineering services, infection control, fire risk assessments, statutory inspections, health and safety management, pest control, water hygiene, re-decoration, extra works and energy and environmental efficiency planning.
Under the new system, Norland’s ‘computer-aided facilities management’ system will work in conjunction with the trust’s helpdesk to run an asset register and control the estate management service. Together they work as a strategic and quality management tools to ensure round-the-clock operations and a high priority re-active response to problems.
