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The first part of any journey is the first step right? Well, maybe not. Before that you need to make a decision on which way you actually want to take that step. That’s the strategy bit, the direction of travel, without that you just stand still. The NHS Estate has seen a lot of standing still over time.

NHS services rely on an extensive infrastructure of resources. A significant part of this is its buildings, so it’s especially important for NHS Trusts to develop an estate strategy that makes optimal use of their service delivery assets. An NHS estates strategy needs to consider current healthcare needs as well as foresee future developments in medical technologies, patient care and social change.

An effective strategy for NHS property and estates should cover a five-to-ten-year period and be laid out in a high-level descriptive document. The following points outline some of the main benefits of developing an estate strategy.

1) Capacity Requirements

NHS premises need to be adequate to health service demands, both now and in the coming years. An effective estate strategy will help to ensure the type and quantity of buildings are in place to meet Strategic Health Authority commitments well into the future. Sustainability is key.

2) Safety and Security

Safety is an important consideration for both patients and staff in hospitals and related healthcare premises. NHS estate strategies can guard against failures in this regard, helping to remove safety hazards from decaying buildings or poorly managed property infrastructure (and there are plenty of those). Strategies also help with security measures to avoid inappropriate entry to facilities or theft of resources.

3) Quality Healthcare Requirements

Strategic planning of property resources enables quality healthcare settings, which are beneficial to treatment and patient satisfaction. Employee morale is also helped by better-functioning and more pleasant working environments; this aids retention and recruitment of valuable nurses, doctors, and other staff.

4) Planned Development Towards Goals

Estates strategy is an important part of wider development frameworks. Because property and estates are so central to NHS functioning and the effectiveness of its services, a good management strategy is also a useful metric for goal-oriented progress.

5) Sustainability

With environmental concerns high on the public agenda, it is important for NHS trusts to play their part in developing solutions and using resources responsibly. The proper management and planning of NHS estates help to meet sustainable development aims and demands for environmental stewardship.

6) Targeted Investment

Property is a high-value asset, so good strategic management of estates is vital from an investment perspective. Better targeting of investments allows the development of key resources, to improve access to services. A well-informed estate strategy is also vital to minimise financial risk in property development and purchase arrangements.

7) Streamlining of Assets

As well as developing investment programmes for property development or procurement to meet care demands, it is also important to use existing assets effectively. Retention of surplus buildings, plus poor or under-utilisation make for inefficient uses of valuable resources. The development of an estate strategy is a good opportunity to evaluate assets, dispose of them where necessary and reinvest more effectively.

8) Optimising Occupancy Costs

Similarly, developing an estate strategy for NHS trusts gives an opportunity to optimise occupancy costs. The strategy should offer a breakdown of expenses, showing areas for improvement or better investment.

Contact Us

To find out more about optimising your NHS Trust estates strategy for better long-term value and service delivery outcomes, please call one of our property consultants today on 07500 704290.

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