NHS Facilities Management
Healthcare trust facing deficit considers 'wholesale' outsourcing
The trust predicting the largest deficit in the country is considering a “wholesale approach to outsourcing corporate functions”, HSJ has discovered.
LIFT companies seek NHS Property Services links
Companies set up under a public-private partnership scheme are positioning themselves to become key partners to NHS Property Services, the firm formed to manage health service assets.
Hinchingbrooke plans set out by new owners
The private provider at the first NHS hospital to be taken over by a private sector firm have set out their vision to turn around its fortunes.
Fire service to discuss sharing ambulance stations
Fire authority leaders are to discuss a report suggesting that millions of pounds could be saved if fire stations were shared with the ambulance service.
Health secretary formally announces NHS property company
Health secretary Andrew Lansley has formally announced details of the government-owned firm that will take over ownership and management of much of the NHS estate.
Exclusive: national company to take over PCT estate
A new national property company is to be set up by the government to manage the primary care trust estate, HSJ understands.
Labour calls on Lib Dems peers to oppose bill
The coalition government is allowing NHS hospitals to devote half their beds, appointments and car park spaces to private patients, Labour has claimed.
NHS chief executives should be 'held to account' for improving staff health
Senior managers should be held to account for improving the health and wellbeing of their workforce, the NHS Future Forum has recommended.
NHS market could fragment further, warns Supply Chain CEO
The “fragmented” way the NHS is developing could make it harder for it to make savings on procurement, the chief executive of NHS Supply Chain has warned.
EU energy plan poses financial risk to NHS - Confed
Energy efficiency improvement plans proposed for EU countries could cost the health service millions of pounds a year, the NHS Confederation has warned.
Managers divided over local pay options
NHS leaders are divided over a possible move away from national pay bargaining, although most managers with responsibilities over pay bills support greater local flexibility.
Calls for trusts to source British food for patient meals
Only one trust in 10 is aware of where the food served to patients comes from, an investigation by the Countryside Alliance Foundation has found.
Pharma suppliers put export ahead of NHS - Burns
Drugs for NHS patients are being delayed because suppliers make more money by selling medication to eurozone countries, the government has said.
NHS sees first CO2 reductions from buildings
The NHS has reduced the carbon footprint resulting from energy use in its buildings for the first time. However, trusts have been told that further energy savings of £40m are possible
Looped Lansley welcome message defended
Andrew Lansley has defended a video message which is being projected to patients in hospital wards on a continuous loop.
New care home operator takes over 240 Southern Cross sites
Southern Cross’s largest landlord NHP and turnaround experts Court Cavendish have formed a new company that becomes the UK’s third largest care home operator.
NHS estate spend rising despite lower bed numbers
Spending on maintaining buildings, cleaning hospitals and feeding patients in the NHS has risen by nearly 8 per cent in a year despite a fall in the number of beds, Department of Health figures reveal.
Hospitals eye charges for disabled parking spaces
Campaigners have criticised plans to charge disabled people for parking at hospital appointments.
Supply chain faces challenges on two fronts over legal concerns
The procurement service for the NHS is facing challenges on two fronts, HSJ can reveal, amid claims some of its frameworks could put trusts at risk of legal action.
Agency workers to get improved employment deal
New rights for temporary and short term contract staff are due to come into force this weekend, helping to stamp out some of the exploitation agency staff face at work, the TUC has said.
More on Facilities Management
Could Hinchingbrooke set a benchmark for health organisation ownership?
Circle’s takeover of Hinchingbrooke hospital has opened a debate on hospital ownership and management, which could, Kevin Jacquiss says, inspire the government to look at new ideas to secure a sustainable future for health service organisations.
How to create a long-term strategy for better workforce planning
The Department of Health’s strategic vision for the NHS presents several workforce planning challenges for the service to tackle. Dulani Mendis suggests strategy tips for creating a culture of long-term improvement.
The NHS trusts leading the way on sustainability and efficiency
A recent league table of over 2,000 UK businesses ranked four NHS trusts as the highest performing organisations. NHS Sustainable Development Unit director David Pencheon explains why other trusts must aim to emulate this success.
How to get the best out of the new healthcare procurement framework
Much has been written about the principles of the new healthcare procurement framework ProCure21+. But what does it mean in practice for NHS and other health related organisations? And for those who have not used the scheme before, what can they expect? Andrew Jowett explains.
The critical need to evaluate and improve back office functions
The health reforms have ushered in a difficult period for health service providers to deliver improving services, but just as challenging is the crucial reorganisation required to improve the back office functions that support frontline services. Claire MacConnell explains.
Why improved design is key to reducing violence against NHS staff
A pilot scheme intended to reduce assaults on NHS employees by improving accident and emergency waiting areas is a vital first step in making sure staff feel safe and protected at work, says Noel Walsh.
