This year’s Healthcare Estates Conference, Exhibition, and Dinner, taking place from 7-8 October at Manchester Central (GMEX), will be ‘even bigger’, the organisers, Step Exhibitions, say, with the outline conference programme set to be announced in April, and ‘further details on the positive impact for exhibitors’ due to be unveiled next month.
Steve Webb, show director said; “We plan to continue our focus on a number of key subject areas in the conference programme this year, including engineering; facilities; estate management and rationalisation; architecture, design, property, and maintenance; financial management; renewable technologies, and carbon reduction.”
Changes in NHS ‘landscape’
The 2014 event theme is ‘Quality in the patient environment’, with ‘a major focus on the recent changes in the NHS, and how these are impacting on the estate’.
“We will be working closely with our event supporters, each of whom provides intelligence and access to key speakers, to ensure that the content is timely and relevant, explained Steve Webb. “In 2014 these will include Architects for Health, BRE, the Design in Mental Health Network, Building & Engineering Services (B&ES), the Construction Industry Council, CIBSE, the Healthcare Facilities Consortium, the Medical Gas Association, the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers, ProCure21+, The King’s Fund, LIFT, and the Carbon and Energy Fund.”
Among a number of new features, and one of four such ‘theatres’ offering ‘free’ content on the exhibition floor, will be a theatre dedicated to design in mental health and dementia care. Steve Webb said: “We are working with the Design In Mental Health Network, who are developing a comprehensive programme for Day One, with Day Two focused on Dementia and Care, run in partnership with the Dementia Services Development Centre (see also pages 49-53).
Expanded for 2014
Also ‘very popular’ in 2013, and expanded for 2014, is the Contractors’ & Architects’ Theatre, which will be run in partnership with Architects for Health and the Construction Industry Council, and will include an area dedicated to Building Information Modelling (BIM).
Carbon and energy reductions
The Energy Theatre, meanwhile, will see presentations on hospital case studies demonstrating the potential for, and realisation of, substantial carbon and energy reductions including, for example, a focus on a scheme at Cambridge’s Addenbrooke’s Hospital developed with the Carbon and Energy Fund. Steve Webb elaborated: “The carbon / greenhouse gas savings achieved through the use of new CHP plant at the site, and the use of renewable (biomass) and clinical waste incineration, will deliver a carbon reduction of 47% for Addenbrooke’s Hospital.”
The fourth theatre offering ‘free’ content is the NHS Sustainability Theatre, which will be run in conjunction with the BRE and the NHS Sustainable Development Unit (NHS SDU). Presentations and content will focus on the NHS SDU’s new Strategy – announced on 29 January this year, and on BREEAM. Steve Webb said: “International interest in the approach the NHS is taking to sustainable development is growing all the time. The NHS is particularly recognised in the areas of system governance for sustainability, metrics, and leadership. “One of the new areas for 2014 linked to sustainability is being developed with the Carbon Energy Fund (CEF), which will hold a one-day event within the Energy Theatre.”
Satisfaction with venue
Step Exhibitions has recently concluded a five-year deal with Manchester Central and IHEEM to continue the development of Healthcare Estates in the North-West based at Manchester Central. Steve Webb said: “Research among our exhibitors, visitors, and delegates, has confirmed that the vast majority are happy with both the location and the venue, while successive years of growth have resulted in the event exceeding all our expectations.”
Research following Healthcare Estates 2013 showed that 90 per cent of visitors planned to attend the event again in 2014, with 86 per cent dubbing the conference ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. Steve Webb said: “Importantly, a large number of our visitors and delegates tell us they only attend one event annually – Healthcare Estates. In 2014, special delegate and ‘VIP’ packages will be offered to previous attendees, selected healthcare employees, IHEEM members, and exhibitors’ guests.”
The organisers have also confirmed a new location for the IHEEM Annual Dinner and Awards in 2014, the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, allowing them to ‘grow’ the dinner to over 500 places.
Healthcare Estates 2014 will take place on 7 and 8 October at Manchester Central.
For more information, including rates for exhibiting, and visiting details, telephone: +44 (0)1892 518877 email: healthcare@stepex.com or visit: www.healthcare-estates.com www.healthcare-estates.org.uk
