Health sector expert Alan Maynard, Professor of Health Economics at the University of York, a former chair of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and a member of the Prime Minister’s “kitchen cabinet” on health, plus writer, broadcaster, and commentator Roy Lilley – twice voted top UK speaker on NHS topics – are among those set to speak at this year’s Healthcare Estates conference, which takes place from 1-2 November at Manchester Central.
The two keynote speakers are joined on the programme by a range of respected estates and facilities professionals, including Rob Smith and Peter Sellars from the Department of Health; Kevin Oxley from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust; Trevor Payne from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Caroline Rassell from Community Health Partnerships, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Louise Ramsay from NHS Hull. This year’s conference programme is shaped around the challenges posed by the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill, and a public sector climate dominated by the need for productivity and efficiency savings. Day one will feature plenary sessions on:
• “Making sense of the Government’s vision for health, construction, and the environment”;
• Sustainability – including a presentation by BRE chief operating officer, Niall Trafford, on “the importance of leadership in delivering sustainability”, as well as the launch of the NHS Sustainability Portal by Trevor Payne (HEJ – May and June 2011), and a question and answer session chaired by BRE associate director of strategic research, Peter Ball;
• “The future of estates” – a panel discussion to include Rob Smith, Caroline Rassell, and Louise Ramsay.
Second day’s programme
Professor Maynard will speak at the start of day two on the future of the NHS, contextualising the reforms and focusing on the challenges ahead. This will be followed by a “Question Time” session – with key “panellists” set to include Peter Sellars and Kevin Oxley – exploring “how estates can be an enabler for a reshaped health system in improving patient outcomes at optimal cost”. The afternoon plenary will explore how Trusts can deliver savings in operational PFI contracts, drawing on the Treasury’s Making savings in operational PFI contracts report, and learnings from the pilot site, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. The conference will close with an address by controversial, challenging, and inspirational health writer, broadcaster, and commentator, Roy Lilley, who mixes deep knowledge of the NHS gained via non-executive directorships and other involvement in a variety of NHS Trusts and bodies – he was a founder member of the NHS Trust Federation – with a highenergy, no-nonsense presenting style.
Stream sessions
Stream sessions throughout the two-day programme will showcase best practice examples of innovation, and how estates organisations can drive quality and productivity improvements. There will also be careers and governance updates, plus bespoke streams designed by BRE and Architects for Health. BRE’s stream will feature:
• Michael Clarke, health manager, Willmott Dixon, speaking on “Implementing innovation: from demonstration to reality”.
• Ray Stephenson, programme manager, ProCure21+, sharing best practice design information from the Preferred Supply Chain Partners.
• Scott Steedman, head of BRE Global, explaining how the BREEAM process is “an essential tool in delivering a sustainable healthcare estate”.
The Architects for Health stream, “Brave new world: shaping healthcare in the future”, will feature three different sessions, with speakers including Chris Shaw, a director at MAAP Architects; Susan Francis, AfH programme director, and John Cooper, AfH chair. For full programme details see the insert in this month’s Health Estate Journal. Potential attendees can also keep up-to-date with new speaker additions, and book their conference place, at: www.healthcare-estates.org.uk Discounted rates apply for IHEEM members, while the “conference-plus” price gives a discounted price for the IHEEM annual awards and dinner on the evening of 1 November at the Manchester Hilton.
‘Networking’ opportunities
According to its organisers, Step Exhibitions, meanwhile, this year’s exhibition in Manchester will focus on the challenges facing many estates departments and local authorities “against a backdrop of some of the most challenging financial conditions the public sector has ever faced”. Themed “Improving healthcare outcomes through innovation – making it happen”, it will provide an opportunity to meet and network with colleagues, hear about, and discuss, the latest innovations, gain practical advice on how to address today’s estates and facilities issues using the latest equipment and systems, and obtain more information on a wide range of products and services. David Cross, of the marketing department at modular construction specialist, Elliott Group, says of the exhibition: “Elliott will be returning to Healthcare Estates for the second consecutive year, and increasing its presence, following our success at last year’s exhibition. The 2010 show provided several key leads for our Off-Site Building Solutions division, and was invaluable in networking with key members of the health sector. This year the division will be joined by Elliott Modular Buildings.” Elliott Group will be on stand E7 at Healthcare Estates 2011.
Sell-out expected
Over 100 leading companies have already confirmed they will be taking stands – a level of interest the organisers say matches that of last year; it is expected that the exhibition will sell out in the next two months (To book, visit: www.healthcare-esates.com/go/ exhibition-visitor). Oliver Laws, MD of Trumpf UK, another 2011 exhibitor, says: “Trumpf continues to invest in the IHEEM show each year, as it is an excellent forum for us to engage with our customers; we use this show as the launch platform for new products. “At the 2011 show we will be exhibiting (on stand D39) in combination with our partners, and will have a larger presence. The IHEEM show is an excellent vehicle for us to show our customers who and what we are, our ideas, innovations, and competencies.”
The IHEEM Annual Conference brochure has now been released; details are viewable online at: www.healthcare-estates.com
