NHS Property Services is relaunching its space management system, NHS Open Space.
First launched in 2016, NHS Open Space was developed by the NHS for the whole healthcare sector. This system will benefit customers, landlords and patients across the entire health system.
The complete space management system provides all NHS and public sector landlords with a suite of specialist estates management, booking and analytics tools, complemented by expert support and guidance from healthcare sector specialists.
NHS Open Space helps landlords to better understand how their estate is being used at a room, property, or portfolio level, through one-off utilisation studies or ongoing monitoring.
Landlords can then use NHS Open Space to better manage their buildings either as an internal booking system or to make rooms available to other organisations to monetise underutilised space.
NHS Open Space helps landlords to better understand how their estate is being used at a room, property, or portfolio level
This enables landlords to drive maximum value through new revenue streams and reduce ongoing costs.
Since its launch, around 7,000 users have successfully provided more than 160 services to patients over a staggering 3.5 million consultation hours.
The self-service booking platform remains at the heart of the NHS Open Space estate management system, providing users with the ability to search, book and use space quickly, saving valuable administration time and resources.
Community Health Partnerships, head tenant in 308 health care buildings across England, is currently working together with NHS Open Space on a pilot scheme using the platform across eighteen buildings in the Midlands and London regions.
Chris King, Head of Open Space for NHSPS explained: “We have enhanced NHS Open Space based on what our customers told us they needed, and it now provides them with clarity and control to assess, manage and evaluate their estate.”
Since its launch, around 7,000 users have successfully provided more than 160 services to patients over a staggering 3.5 million consultation hours
“It will help provide meaningful utilisation data collection, and reduce administration time, increasing cost recovery for our NHS customers which is critical as they focus on forecasting and budget management as we enter a new financial year,” King continued.
“We’re also thrilled to be welcoming CHP onboard this month and look forward to collaborating with them as part of a pilot scheme to create an improved experience for their tenants and customers,” King concluded.
Benefits
Some added benefits to customers created by the new NHS Open Space platform include:
- One-off or ongoing utilisation studies and monitoring to understand their estate.
- They’re able to decide on either an internal booking system for staff or allow other organisations to book and use space.
- Functionality on a room-by-room basis giving them full flexibility.
- Self-service portal to manage properties, pricing, users and access a suite of utilisation and financial reports.
- Intuitive user interface to streamline management time and maximise usage.
- Easy access from any device, giving on-the-go flexibility.
- Wide range of room types including clinical and non-clinical space, across 200+ locations.
- Transparent pricing and room availability data.
- Further strategic estates management advice available through NHSPS’ additional service provision.
- Expert UK-based technical support.
Nafees Arif, Chief Financial Officer at Community Health Partnerships, said: “In partnership with NHS Property Services, South East London and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICBs, we are very pleased to be running this pilot scheme and hope that the evaluation will show positive benefits for our NHS customers.”
