The impact of the changes in the NHS as a result of the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill, and the financial challenges facing public sector spending and resource, will dominate this year’s Healthcare Estates conference (at Manchester Central from 1-2 November), promises the organiser.
Research by the organiser – which also publishes a number of healthcare and construction-related magazines – is being combined with the results of IHEEM’s call for proposals to create a conference structure and content that the two organisations say will provide “a compelling experience” for delegates. The conference organiser said: “There will be a flexible combination of plenary and stream sessions to provide breadth and depth for healthcare engineers and estate managers. In the plenary sessions there will be a strong emphasis on speakers and panellists from the Government and the NHS. This will combine top-level insight into strategies across construction, the environment, and health, with practical and inspirational views and experiences of directors in the acute and community sectors meeting the challenges of delivering improved outcomes at the same time as productivity and efficiency improvements. “In the stream sessions there will be plenty of best practice content designed to help delegates meet their immediate challenges, and strengthen their career potential. There will also be a stream on day one from BRE, and, on day two, from Architects for Health.” The joint BRE and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust stream will, in fact, see the two organisations jointly launch their “Plan A” “Sustainability Portal”, a new package of services that the project partners promise will give healthcare organisations access to methodologies, processes, and information, “inspired by, and developed” in the style of Marks and Spencer’s “Plan A” sustainability strategy, which was unveiled in early 2007 to help the major high street retail group achieve its aim of “becoming the world’s most sustainable major retailer”. The Portal will make available a package of advice, consultancy, training, and related services, that the two organisations say will help NHS Trusts and other healthcare organisations reduce their carbon emissions and energy consumption, and operate more sustainably and efficiently, at a time when the UK healthcare sector is facing increasing fiscal, regulatory, and social pressure, to meet such goals. The initiative has been developed by Trevor Payne, estates director at UCLH, who explained: “Working with BRE enables us to disseminate the learning, expertise, and knowledge, we have developed over the past 18 months at our hospitals to deliver a more sustainable, efficient UCLH. BRE has the experience and knowledge to impartially publish our information, and the expertise to further develop it as the NHS’s needs evolve.” Niall Trafford, director of BRE’s Sustainable Development Group, added: “We have delivered these types of sustainability methodologies and solutions for a wide range of clients. “Working with UCLH presents us with a unique opportunity to deliver excellence back to the NHS, and to demonstrate BRE’s research, development, and guidance capabilities in built environment sustainability.” UCLH and BRE say they also plan to develop a Centre of Excellence for evidence-based design, at the UCLH site in London, and the BRE Innovation Park in Watford. More information on the conference is available on the dedicated website: www.healthcare-estates.org.uk
Exhibition ‘going from strength to strength’
The Healthcare Estates exhibition, meanwhile, “continues to go from strength to strength”, says exhibition director Steve Webb. He said: “With six months still to go, over 60% of the stand space has now been reserved, and only 60 stands remain in what will again be a bigger showcase of the latest products and solutions for the healthcare sector. “Key feature areas within the exhibition stands will give visitors even more reason to plan for their attendance. Delegates at the conference will also be able to take part, as the organisers have timed the showcase events during breaks in the conference programme. “Working with our supporting organisations and key exhibitors,” he continued, “we have a fantastic programme of activities, and line-up of key organisations and companies we are working with, to make this year’s exhibition a compelling proposition. The Healthcare Facilities Consortium has put together a great programme for FM professionals and estates managers, UCLH and BRE are launching their ‘Plan A’ initiative at the conference, and running an advice clinic in the exhibition, and we are developing a New Product Showcase for exhibitors launching products and services. “Over the past two months a marketing campaign has been running aimed at key NHS decision-makers, including key healthcare professionals, senior directors, local authority decision-makers, property professionals, and architects from across the UK, all of whom will converge on Manchester in November for two days. In-depth research has also been undertaken to ensure that all the conference and exhibition content is as relevant as possible.”
Open day in late June
To enable potential delegates and exhibitors to hear more about the features planned for Healthcare Estates 2011, the organisers have arranged an open day at Manchester Central on 29 June. Steve Webb said: “This will be an opportunity to meet the team, hear about our plans for the event, receive an update on the conference, and get some top tips on strategies to enable exhibitors to get the most out of participating.” For more information on the exhibition, telephone: 01892 518877, or email: SamBaker@stepex.com
