‘Check-ups’ on offer for a better optimised healthcare estate

Design and management specialist Pick Everard, which has 12 UK offices and over 800 employees, will be attending the two-day conference in Manchester this month, sharing its insights into how best to transform spaces for more effective patient care.

It comes after the NHS launched its Estate Optimisation Guide to bridge the gap between patient need and healthcare reform. It said nearly nine in 10 NHS leaders have low to medium awareness of how their estates are being used, while a third lack the capacity to implement effective changes and make the most of their buildings.

After working with more than 50 NHS trusts, charities and healthcare organisations, Pick Everard said the power of preventative care and optimised design can unlock the potential of existing spaces to deliver comfortable and sustainable patient facilities.

Director of project management John Clarke, who will be attending Healthcare Estates, said: "Healthcare estates must evolve alongside changing care models, service priorities and the introduction of new technologies, while remaining comfortable spaces which inspire trust and confidence.

“We have a track record of reviewing healthcare buildings and designing and implementing property strategies which focus on reducing costs, maximising capacity and providing a high-quality patient-oriented environment.

“Identifying priority areas for improvement, such as maintenance regimes, wasted spaces, bottlenecks in layouts, and inadequate facilities such as workstations or waiting areas, which can all create congestion and restrict patient flow, is the first step in ensuring people benefit from better services.”

Earlier this year, the Government announced more than 400 hospitals, mental health units and ambulance bases would be allocated a share of £750 million to tackle long-term problems such as leaky pipes, poor ventilation and electrical issues. It said fixing the backlog of maintenance at NHS hospitals will help prevent cancellations, with services disrupted more than 4,000 times in the year 2023 to 2024 due to issues with poor quality buildings.

“Ultimately, the design, upkeep and operation of healthcare facilities have the potential to improve the quality of the patient experience and support staff performance,” said John.

“The Government has set out its intention to transform health services so they are fit for the future, in its 10 Year Health Plan, meaning it is crucial that estate managers have access to the right knowledge and skills to successfully adapt and modernise their spaces in line with the proposals.”

Want to understand where your estate could improve? Book a free health check consultation via the Pick Everard website: https://landing.pickeverard.co.uk/Events/health_check.html

Pick Everard will also be attending Healthcare Estates on October 21 and 22 at Manchester Central.