Despite improvements to the way that the NHS manages its property, annual savings worth £2.3 billion remain available given the adoption of better facilities management and procurement practices.
So concludes Delivering better healthcare outcomes more efficiently, the fourth annual report into ‘the efficiency of the NHS estate’ published to date by built asset consultancy, EC Harris, which says ‘the wasted space in the NHS estate is equivalent to 157 hectares – larger than London’s Hyde Park’. Better use of property, and disposal of surplus land, have, however, seen the ‘wasted space’ fall by 53% since 2009. The latest report focuses on FM procurement and ‘wasted estate’, and acknowledges ‘further significant opportunities to improve estate efficiency via better use of poorly utilised space’, and removing much of the 12.8% of the NHS Estate that is ‘functionally unsuitable’. EC Harris said: “Many Trusts are actively managing their estate, and benefits can be often seen in the same financial year – for example Mid-Essex Hospital Trust reduced its floor area by nearly 10,000 m2 in just eight months, and cut its estate revenue costs.”
