Healthcare Estates is hugely important

A key part of their responsibilities is to ensure they have a well trained and responsible workforce that is up-to-date on all the aspects of running and developing the healthcare facilities within their Trust. Up-to-date information is required on construction, redevelopment, infrastructure resilience, infection control, energy use, carbon emissions and sustainability to name but a few areas, and there needs to be knowledge of the latest products and services.

With the changing face of healthcare provision in the UK driven through the new payment mechanism, giving patients choice of venues for treatment and the formation of Foundation Trusts, NHS hospital executives will depend less on the “system” and more on their business skills and acumen. The Healthcare Estates Conference and Exhibition will have an increasing role in supplying relevant information that will aid in the future development of personnel and issues related to the future of healthcare estates.

The IHEEM conference is the most important conference of the year for public healthcare estates personnel whether they are estate managers, cost managers architects or engineers. Increasingly the event has also attracted leading private organisations, with project managers and procurement teams from PFI, ProCure21 and LIFT schemes attending the event. The event offers both the private and public sectors key information that will aid in the construction, development and day to day running of healthcare facilities in acute and primary facilities. If you are looking for policy announcements, guidance on policy or the latest thinking in key issues affecting the running of an efficient and cost effective facilities then the event has it for you.

With over 150 exhibitors on show and a world class programme of conference papers, Healthcare Estates Conference and Exhibition has created a huge information source under one roof. This year’s event takes place on 16 and 17 October 2007 at the Harrogate International Centre. The two-day programme that will stimulate and excite those attending and give them the opportunity to view the latest products and services within the largest exhibition in the UK for healthcare estates and facilities.

This year’s conference has three specific topic streams:

Best Practice in PFI, ProCure21 and LIFT.
Primary Care in a Community Setting.
Acute Healthcare.

If you would like to present a paper and offer your experience or knowledge there is still time as the Call for Papers closes on 16 April. The IHEEM conference committee is looking for stimulating, thought-provoking presentations. To view the suggested paper topics please visit www.iheem.org.uk/events. To have your presentation considered please submit a 500 word abstract summarising the content of your presentation.

Please send your abstract via email to conference@iheem.org.uk .

The delegate booking rates are now available and have been simplified to offer great savings if you book before the early booking deadline of 10 September. To view the rates please visit www.iheem.org.uk or www.healthcare-estates.com.

For those currently involved in a design or management team, the conference could be the ideal setting to organise a team meeting to develop specific ideas and areas of strategy. This could be done by attending the relevant conference papers and then identifying the best products or services to help you deliver your goal.

Whatever conference sessions you attend or exhibitors you visit, there is no doubt that your effectiveness to deliver your professional responsibilities will be enhanced. One other key benefit is of course the network opportunities that can offer so much in the way of business development, marketing and good old fashioned communication.

If there is only one event you go to this year, then make sure it is Healthcare Estates Conference and Exhibition.