A new guide has launched to help NHS leaders optimise the use of their estates and ‘support the ambitions’ of the upcoming 10-year plan.
The guide, published by NHS Property Services (NHSPS), looks at how to assess demand and property supply, understanding space utilisation and weighing options for transformation, savings and reinvestment.
It follows a survey from NHSPS that found that nearly nine in 10 leaders have low to medium awareness of how their estate is currently being used.
The small survey, which had 21 respondents across the NHS, also found that 50% lacked ‘full comprehensive data’ needed to make informed decisions about estates, while one third lack the capacity to implement effective change.
The guide includes details of how to assess the property supply, including the condition of the property and holding arrangements, and how to use data to better understand your building use.
Simon Taylor, director estates policy, strategy and capital projects at NHSPS, said: ‘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.’
‘Simply better understanding current space utilisation can often lead to transformative estate opportunities.’ Simon added. ‘In some cases, buildings thought to be in constant use are only 40% utilised. In others, strategic lease negotiations or repurposing office space can unlock significant savings to fund future care delivery.’
It comes as the Chancellor’s spending review last week announced a £2.3bn real terms increase in the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) annual capital budgets from 2023/24 to 2029/30, which would include money for new technology, primary care and hospitals.
This week, the NHS Shared Business Services published an updated version of its modular building framework, to ‘meet the urgent needs’ of the NHS and other public services.
In May, the GP practices receiving part of a £100m estates fund was revealed, with Greater Manchester having the highest number of GP practices with access to the fund.
Last month, our sister title Management in Practice published a guide to managing a renovation, extension or remodel of GP premises.
