SOCIAL VALUE
local businesses to increase employment, and develops skills that may find their way into NHS estates and maintenance teams in the future. At RCHT, we are working to further
enhance this as part of initiatives to develop local Tier 2 contractors for larger construction and maintenance projects,
The Garden of Freedom at the Royal Cornwall Hospital was designed as a space for young patients and their families to enjoy during treatment or hospital visits, with the name chosen by a young patient at the hospital. It replaced the original children’s play area on the site.
Inset: RCHT collaborates with Cornwall Council, Falmouth and Plymouth Universities, local colleges, and a wide range of local charities and community organisations, to develop construction skills.
emissions; detailing the targets, strategies, and actions required. It includes extensive analysis and modelling to support the NHS Net Zero ambition.
n NHS England’s Carbon reduction plan and net zero commitment requirements for the procurement of NHS goods, services and works2
provide details on the
implementation of carbon reduction plans and Net Zero commitments for the procurement of NHS goods, services, and works. The document outlines the steps that suppliers must take to align with the NHS Net Zero ambition through to 2030.
n Greening the business case3 sets out how estates and
facilities staff can support the business case for investing in carbon reduction measures, and why this is critical for all NHS organisations.
Some Trusts ‘further down the road’ There are Trusts further down this road than us who have been able to prioritise significant investment in reducing carbon emissions, but we are doing our best to make every kWh count. RCHT has implemented various sustainability initiatives across its estate, including installing solar panels and the use of energy-efficient lighting. Recent bids to the NHS Energy Efficiency Fund secured a further £1.4 m investment in the roll-out of solar panels and LED lighting, which both reduce carbon emissions, and save significant sums of money that can be reinvested elsewhere. It’s not just on and in our buildings that we aim to contribute to sustainability. Active participation in NHS Forest4
initiatives has helped engage staff outdoors in
planting trees for the future, and biodiversity mapping across our estate has given us a better understanding of where we can best improve combined small parcels of land to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) targets attached to new developments. Not only is this a much cheaper option than outsourcing BNG, but it also contributes to staff and patient wellbeing, which is covered further on in this article. Another key strategy for embedding social value in
health estate management is to prioritise support for local economic development. Many Trusts already do this by using local suppliers to deliver smaller contracts, recognising that this is often more convenient, supports
54 Health Estate Journal March 2025
often by doing something as simple as sharing greater detail around procurement requirements, or ‘demystifying’ social value at supplier engagement events. NHS Trusts can, and do, create direct job opportunities and apprenticeships for local residents within their Estates teams with support from initiatives such as the former Estates and Facilities Workforce: Apprenticeship Challenge.5
There is also more creative use of the
sometimes overlooked Apprenticeship Levy, which can be transferred to support a wider range of communities and staff in the supply chain.6 In designing facilities that are physically accessible,
culturally sensitive, and user-friendly, Estates management teams have significant influence over the extent to which healthcare facilities are accessible and welcoming to all members of the community – recognising those with disabilities and impairments, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. RCHT has embraced inclusive design principles in its estate management practices, and the Major Capital Projects Team has operated an Accessibility Advisory Group at RCHT for the past three years alongside the Cornwall Disability Alliance.6
This Group ensures that
the voice of lived experience is heard, and creates real change across new developments. Examples to date include ensuring accessible audio/visual intercoms; the introduction of Makaton signage; improved colour contrast and colour definition (including dementia-friendly colours); audio-described information and stoma-friendly shelves in accessible toilets; raised ‘sweeps’ on faucets to denote hot and cold water; improved ‘turning circles’ for wheelchairs in waiting areas, and improvements to the provision of accessible parking.
Health and wellbeing Promoting health and wellbeing is a core objective of NHS hospital Trusts, and by designing estates that encourage health and wellbeing, such organisations can enhance the overall environment for patients, staff, and visitors. While sterile spaces are important in a hospital setting, that doesn’t mean they can’t include colour, fresh air, views of nature, and peace and quiet. A quick internet search of new hospital developments, and many retrofits, will reveal use of biophilic design7
Courtesy of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
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