Which Way Forward For Healthcare Estates Planning?
Back in 2018, the Nuffield Trust published a paper exploring options for redesigning healthcare estates around people and to reflect changes in healthcare delivery. Since the document was published we’ve had a major global pandemic, been promised major capital investment for new facilities and there’s a greater focus on local healthcare delivery. How have these events changed the priorities?
The planning system has also undergone significant changes, which should offer more flexibility when it comes to putting the right facilities in the right place. And finally, climate change and the drive for net zero carbon has become an even higher priority.
Design Flexibility
Planning estates around people means taking a more flexible approach to design, rather than being driven entirely by clinical requirements. For example, how could a new healthcare facility best support progress towards more integrated health and care services? How should it be designed to meet environmental and sustainability factors such as building performance and travel for staff and patients? And what other services to support health and wellbeing can be delivered from the same facilities?
Flexibility is becoming even more important. We can design a building to suit the needs and clinical models of today but we can’t accurately predict the requirements in 20 or 30 years’ time. Building lifespans are far longer than those of clinical models.
Offsite Solutions
New facilities should be easy to expand to meet additional demand or opportunities to deliver more services. Internal spaces should also be flexible with large spans and internal walls that are easy to move. We know how to achieve these goals using offsite construction methods that have the added benefit of guaranteed thermal and energy efficiency performance.
Covid-19 accelerated the move towards remote consultations. There are many advantages in continuing to offer remote consultations and new developments need to take this into account. Planned healthcare facilities need to provide suitable spaces and IT services.
Maximising Land Values
Moving to more local healthcare provision may leave main hospital sites with excess land. They may also have existing land that can be released for redevelopment by installing Osborne and Siderpark’s modular parking solution.
Partnerships and imaginative commercial arrangements make it possible for NHS Trusts to benefit financially from any redevelopment. This could include non-clinical uses such as offices or key worker housing where Osborne’s Systemised Housing product offers a cost-effective and efficient option.
Priorities for managing healthcare estates and infrastructure are changing rapidly. This calls for construction partners that are flexible, both commercially and in their use of advanced building systems. To find out more about Osborne’s approach, contact Richard King ([email protected]) or visit our Healthcare webpage by clicking the button below.
