Following recent discussions with senior Department of Health Officials, IHEEM will be assisting the Department to raise awareness of the benefits of implementation of PAM (the Premises Assurance Model – HEJ, August 2010).
Revisions to the Guidance document will be released by the DH this month. IHEEM CEO, Julian Amey (pictured), says he feels that the combination of IHEEM’s regional branches, and its Company, NHS Trust, and University Affiliates, will provide ‘a strong co-ordinated force of champions’ for the wider use of PAM by highlighting the benefit it offers in recording the current condition of estates and identifying areas of risk that can then be mitigated. The software also provides information which will allow Trusts and companies to optimise carbon reductions and increase energy efficiency. The Institute is organising a meeting in mid-February at Loughborough University where, following a presentation of the revised PAM guidance document by Department officials, IHEEM experts will undertake a peer review. Following the peer group review, any modifications that may be required will be incorporated, and the Institute will then endorse the document. The DH estimates that, currently, only 30% of potential users are taking advantage of PAM. IHEEM, in conjunction with other bodies such as HefmA, will be organising regional campaigns and roadshows over the next three years ‘to ensure that this percentage is substantially increased’. Julian Amey said: “The Institute will also be working with the Department to address Critical Infrastructure Risk. PFI projects have taken the range of risks to a higher level, and the Department has identified four categories of risk. It will prioritise its efforts by addressing estates in the ‘critical’ and ‘significant’ categories. IHEEM is delighted to be offering its members’ expertise to help the Department devise a plan for progressively dealing with these major issues.”
