sponsored by HEALTH SECTOR NEWS
IWFM launch Information Management guide
A new good practice guide from IWFM provides a transformative framework for how workplace and facilities management (WFM) professionals approach information management.
It positions information as critical infrastructure – essential not only for compliance and operational efficiency but also for strategic assurance, ESG performance and organisational resilience. The guide is authored by
Gordon Mitchell, a UK-based expert on technology in WFM, and chair of the IWFM Technology Special Interest Group. Gordon Mitchell said: “FM is now expected to deliver Net Zero, safety, resilience and great workplaces – often all at once and usually with less budget and more scrutiny. What’s missing is trusted, structured information.
Developed with input
from leading experts and peer reviewers across the sector, the guide introduces the Five-Layer Model, a practical tool for embedding structured, trustworthy and outcome-focused information practices.
Information management is not just a leadership concern – it’s a whole-business activity, IWFM emphasises. IWFM’s director of External Affairs, Insight and Impact, Jenny Thomas, said: “It is so much more than a technical reference. It empowers professionals to
“Too often, our data is fragmented, outdated or simply not believed. That erodes confidence and quietly bleeds value out of the system. The new Good Practice Guide responds to that reality. It treats information not as a by-product but as a managed, lifecycle asset.”
lead change, demonstrate value and build workplaces that are resilient and sustainable.” The guide is designed to support
a range of stakeholders, including WFM professionals, asset owners, service providers, investors, insurers, policymakers and regulators
Refurb designed for Barking Trust Emergency care unit
Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust has completed RIBA Stage 4 design works for the refurbishment of the Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. Following the project briefing in October 2024, the Trust worked with structural and civil engineering consultancy Perega to develop the detailed technical design for the SDEC refurbishment, marking a further milestone in their five-year collaborative relationship. The project forms part of the
Trust’s ongoing commitment to modernising facilities and improving urgent care for local patients. The refurbishment presented
opportunities to enhance efficiency within the existing hospital structure. Using Queen’s Hospital’s site records, detailed assessments were carried out on the roof structure to support additional mechanical plant required for the
upgraded unit. During the design process, the originally specified mechanical plant loading was reviewed, and a lighter alternative was identified, removing the need for a substantial new steel support frame. This approach reduced material
use, minimised costs and avoided disruption to the existing waterproof roof structure. A key challenge involved routing
new ductwork from the ground floor to the roof while avoiding disruption to the fully operational ward directly above the SDEC on the first floor. Following extensive investigations, the design team delivered a solution to route the ductwork externally up the building face through a confined section of the external wall, ensuring minimal disruption to patient services.
26 Health Estate Journal January 2026 Careful coordination was also
required to manage drainage around the suspended ground floor slab and existing ground gas conditions. The Trust worked closely with
the wider design team, including Redworth Associates and Arcadis, to ensure a coordinated and robust design solution that would work within a live hospital environment. Looking ahead, design work is also progressing on the early stages of the A&E transformation project at Queen’s Hospital.
Funding from Runnymede Borough Council (part of the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)) to modernise intensive care and cardiac units at St Peter’s Hospital, part of Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been announced. A £2.9 m upgrade to the
Cardiac Catheter Lab will allow more complex and minimally invasive heart procedures to be carried out more quickly and safely. Combined with an existing NHS allocation of £900,000, this investment will fund advanced new equipment and support earlier diagnosis and intervention. The investment will also help
create brighter, more welcoming spaces for families, alongside cutting-edge clinical environments, the Trust said.
Louise Stead, Chief Executive for Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals, said: “We are delighted to receive this investment… which will enable us to make important enhancements to two of our vital... The funding will support the expansion of our Cardiac Catheter Lab and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, helping us to upgrade facilities and invest in advanced equipment that meets the growing needs of our local population. “These improvements will
strengthen our ability to deliver timely, life-saving care in modern, purpose-built environments.” The improvements will be
delivered within the next two years. The move to support St Peter’s Hospital comes as the Council continues work to progress the sale of the Hythe Centre in Egham to a new owner who will bring the site back into health use, including plans for a new GP surgery.
£3.2 m
investment for Surrey hospital
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