Study highlights some worrying knowledge gaps

Carl-Magnus von Behr, Professor Tim Minshall, and Professor John Clarkson report on research, sponsored by the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to identify how knowledge priorities vary among NHS EFM staff across organisational levels. The results highlight knowledge gaps in sustainability and digitalisation, varying skill priorities for managers and directors, and a strong reliance on external expertise. The findings ‘emphasise the importance of aligning organisational structures with evolving knowledge demands’, and targeted training for effective healthcare EFM.

The role of estates and facilities management (EFM) in the healthcare sector is often overlooked, despite its crucial contribution to the efficient delivery of clinical services. The research on which we report here – in which 152 EFM professionals participated – was conducted by a team from the University of Cambridge’s Engineering Design Centre and Institute for Manufacturing, and highlighted the need for tailored communication channels for different knowledge types. This study addressed the gap in understanding the precise knowledge needs of EFM staff at different organisational levels. This lack of clarity limits the ability to develop targeted training and career pathways. By identifying the key knowledge areas essential at various career stages within EFM, the aim of research was to empower the workforce, fostering better performance, and enabling a more sustainable and efficient NHS.

The findings reveal several key points: Firstly, there is a strong reliance on external Authorising Engineers for technical and benchmarking expertise. Secondly, we observed a significant gap in the areas of sustainability and digitalisation, indicating a misalignment between strategy and practice. Thirdly, collaboration skills are crucial for Managers, whereas Directors of EFM prioritise financial management, affecting technology adoption and reliance on legacy systems. The insights gained from the research highlight the importance of aligning organisational structures with evolving knowledge demands, and designing targeted training programmes for effective healthcare EFM management.