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Mind the Gap: IHEEM reveals 2026 event theme as Call for Presentations opens
IHEEM has officially launched its Call for Presentations for Healthcare Estates 2026, unveiling a powerful new conference theme: “Mind the Gap: Are We Heading for a Two-Tier Estate?”
The theme reflects a growing reality across the NHS: while some Trusts are progressing with new, digitally enabled hospitals, others are working tirelessly within ageing, deteriorating infrastructure where the priority is simply keeping estates services operational. This trend is likely to continue to widen, potentially creating a two- tier estate impacting service delivery, patient experience, safety, sustainability aims, and long-term system resilience. IHEEM CEO, Pete Sellars, says the 2026 theme comes at a crucial moment. “We are seeing an increasingly visible gap between the best- equipped parts of the estate and those struggling with legacy buildings and significant backlog pressures,” he explains. “Healthcare Estates has always been a platform for honest discussion, shared learning and practical solutions. This year’s theme challenges us to confront the realities of managing this divide – and to work collectively to prevent a fragmented, two-tier NHS estate emerging.” Reflecting on the success of the 2025 event, Pete Sellars adds, “This year’s Healthcare Estates conference and exhibition was one of
Opening the keynote sessions were IHEEM’s CEO and heads of NHS England, Wales and Scotland.
our strongest yet, thanks to the outstanding contributions from our speakers, exhibitors, partners and the wider IHEEM community. I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved – your commitment and support continue to make Healthcare Estates the leading platform for collaboration, innovation and professional excellence across the healthcare estates sector.” Healthcare Estates 2026 aims
to bring both sides of the estate together: those delivering state- of-the-art new facilities and those embedding innovation within existing buildings under far more constrained conditions.
Call for Presentations The Call for Presentations invites contributions that demonstrate how innovation, learning and practical strategies can be shared across the system to improve outcomes for all. Pete Sellars adds,
“We want to highlight scalable approaches that uplift every part of the NHS estate – not just the newest or most generously funded. I encourage anyone with a project or insight that can help close this gap to submit a proposal.” The 2026 Conference Programme will again
be structured around five key themes, each exploring a different dimension of the emerging two- tier challenge: n Digital Technology & Innovation n Estates & Facilities Services n Governance, Assurance & Compliance
Mike Dunne, AE for Ventilation and Technical Director for Buildings at Stantec presents. Above: Specialist seminars on Water Safety & Infection Control formed part of the speaker schedule.
10 Health Estate Journal January 2026
n Medical Engineering & Healthcare Engineering
n Strategic Health & Social Care Planning
These themes will examine how disparities in resources, skills, infrastructure and digital readiness are shaping the future of the estate – and what can be done to promote equity, resilience and long-term improvement.
Exhibition Theatre Alongside the Conference, the Exhibition Theatre Programme will return with focused themes spanning design, sustainability, facilities management,
engineering and infection control. Across both programmes, members of the healthcare community are encouraged to submit case studies, research, innovations and lessons learned that demonstrate how progress in one part of the system can be transferred to another. Full theme descriptions, FAQs and submission guidance are available on the Healthcare Estates website.
The deadline for submissions
is Friday 6 February 2026, and early submissions are strongly encouraged. As pressures on the NHS estate continue to evolve, Healthcare Estates 2026 aims to spark the conversations – and showcase the solutions – that can prevent a widening divide and support a more equitable, future-ready health system.
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