Throughout its history, the Healthcare Estates Conference and Exhibition has addressed the current political, economic and practical challenges facing those involved in healthcare facilities management.
In 2007, the Government is committed to spending more than £1.3 billion on major PFI and LIFT projects, with an additional £750 million being made available for community-based care projects.
In response, a major development in the conference structure will open up the event to wider audience – this will involve a broader scope of presentations allowing attendees to meet and discuss projects with colleagues in both the acute and primary healthcare sectors.
The theme of this year’s conference is Patient-Centred Healthcare Environments: Quality, Sustainability & Safety. Reflecting the issues, policies and trends affecting delegates, the content will be divided into three streams:
Best practice
This stream will focus on a range of case studies from across the UK, examining funding routes. Speakers presenting these case studies will give an in-depth view of best practice stemming from their particular project. It is expected that subjects such as design, procurement, construction and energy and efficiency will be covered with a particular focus on the end user and their opinions of what went well and what was not so well achieved.
Healthcare in a primary setting
With the Government planning to invest some £750 million in developing primary and community-based facilities over the next five years, this new stream aims to bring managers from community hospitals, GP and dental practices the latest advice and information from leading experts and practitioners. It is expected that this stream will give those working in the primary healthcare setting a focused and specific programme of presentations geared up to their sector in particular and the differing challenges that it provides.
Acute healthcare
In the decade since coming to power, the Government has committed almost £7 billion to improving Britain’s healthcare facilities, and plans to spend a further £10 billion over the next five years to finish the job. The Healthcare Estates Conference offers a unique perspective on the issues affecting acute healthcare provision, including new build, redevelopment and day-to-day running of existing facilities.
Call for papers
A “Call for Papers” was launched last month for the conference. IHEEM is now inviting innovative and inspiring papers for consideration – in particular papers from professionals working in acute and primary healthcare facilities. Those focusing on best practice and encouraging quality, sustainability and safety will be particularly well received.
The closing deadline for submission of abstracts is 16 April 2007.
More information is available at www.healthcare-estates.com or www.iheem.org.uk/events
The exhibition evolves
As well as the revised conference structure, there are a number of new features in this year’s exhibition to attract even more visitors to the event. The “Efficiency in Focus” stand will bring together the leading bodies and groups in the fields of design, environment and energy to offer visitors practical advice on improving efficiency and productivity within their facilities. It will provide opportunities to ask the leading experts in specific fields how to run estates or facilities more efficiently.
A free CD offering advice and useful information will be available to visitors. A highlight will be the “Future Operating Theatre” – following the success of the “Future Ward” display in 2006, this year’s exhibition will feature a special display predicting what the operating theatre of the future could look like, based on the latest products and design thinking.
Introduced in 2005, “Healthcare Showcase” 25-minute presentations have become an established feature of the exhibition. Each year attendance has grown, and this year there will be over 20 commercial presentations from leading companies in the market.
Further details are available at www.healthcare-estates.com
Colin Williams, exhibition director of Healthcare Estates Conference and Exhibition, said: “This year’s Healthcare Estates is targeting the key issues affecting the marketplace. If you are involved in the development, construction or day-to-day running of healthcare facilities in the public or private sector, then the new style conference has content for you.
“New for this year is a stream on ‘Healthcare in a primary setting’ which will broaden the appeal of the event and will give key decision makers in primary care facilities an event where they can learn, discuss and discover the latest information of primary care facilities development.
“Healthcare Estates provides you with the ‘complete picture’, with a world class conference programme and the largest exhibition in the UK with over 150 exhibitors offering the latest products and services. This event offers you the best opportunity to network with fellow colleagues.”
John Long, chief executive of IHEEM, added: “I visited the 2006 event and thought it was outstanding. The speakers, venue, exhibition and networking opportunities were all extremely well organised in a balanced and cohesive way. I expect the 2007 event to exceed the standards set last year. The conference and exhibition will continue to be the key event for those working in the field of healthcare estates.”
