HEALTH SECTOR NEWS
New Neighbourhood Health Forum PPP report
The Neighbourhood Health Forum and law firm Bevan Brittan have published a new report setting out some of the key areas needed to develop new PPP models in health. The report also looks at how the government’s neighbourhood health centre plans can be delivered at pace. In summer 2026, the Neighbourhood Health Forum and Bevan Brittan hosted a roundtable discussion to consider the government’s neighbourhood health plans. Drawing on members’ collective experience in delivering public sector infrastructure over the last 20 years, the new report highlights three key themes: n The benefits of a strategic partnership model.
n The need to future proof neighbourhood health procurement.
n Balancing flexibility, standardisation, and deliverability.
Chair of the Neighbourhood Health Forum Sarah Beaumont-Smith
said: “There continues to be huge private sector interest in the government’s neighbourhood health ambitions but as this new report sets out, there are some important considerations to ensure that the new health PPP model can attract the private sector expertise and investment needed to deliver the plans at pace. We remain hopeful that the key themes in this report are consistent with the new PPP model in
development by government, and we look forward to further details being brought to market soon.” Rosemary Jago, Partner at Bevan Brittan said: “With the continued shift of acute care into the community, the government’s plans for neighbourhood health will bring healthcare closer to home. As this report sets out, flexibility in structuring a new PPP arrangement will be key, one that is locally
Medway NHS Foundation Trust digitises fire risk management
Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Medway Maritime Hospital, has introduced a new digital system to manage fire safety information. By taking data from multiple
sources, the BIS Lens system created by BIS Consult provides the Trust’s Fire Safety Group with a new strategic tool designed to bring together and analyse fire risk assessment information centrally in a digital format. The new structured digital
approach supports NHS guidance for managing fire safety, including HTM 05-03, which explains how
NHS organisations should assess fire risk and HTM 05-01, which provides the wider framework for managing fire safety across healthcare buildings. It also supports the ‘golden thread’ principle of keeping accurate and accessible fire safety information available throughout the life of a building. New insights generated from
interactive dashboards will support fire safety review meetings and help guide the Trust’s investment decisions by making it easier to identify priority risks, outstanding actions, and recurring themes such as fire door replacement and evacuation plans. Medway NHS Foundation Trust is
a single-site hospital Trust based in Gillingham, Kent serving more than 427,000 people across Medway and Swale.
Neil McElduff, director of estates and facilities for the Trust, said: “The new system is a significant step in our shift towards digital. It underpins the strategic direction of fire safety management and will help maintain a safe environment across our hospital.
22 Health Estate Journal November 2026
The work to date shows the system’s potential to drive similar insights for other critical areas of risk and compliance across the Trust.” Jason Brittin, capital projects/
programme manager for the Trust, who led the project, said: “The BIS Consult solution has demonstrated how we can transform the way we manage fire safety information across our hospital estate. The improved visibility of risk will help our fire safety and estates teams prioritise action, support regulatory compliance, and make more efficient investment decisions.” BIS Consult MD Nick Campbell-
Voegt said: “The digital tool enables Medway NHS Foundation Trust to take a more connected, data-driven approach to risk reduction. By developing a single source of truth, it gives teams clearer priorities and ultimately helps create safer hospitals. Other areas of NHS estate risk can benefit from the same method, including water safety and structural condition of buildings or other assets.”
Work is also progressing on new antenatal reception area. Over the coming months, visitors and staff will begin to see further transformation across the unit as the new ultrasound facilities, triage area, and birthing suite developments take shape. Paul Coyle, regional managing
director, Robertson Construction North West, said: “Strong progress continues across the hospital, with key milestones being reached that will help enhance facilities for people across Bolton while also providing an improved environment for staff. “As we reach these important stages in the programme, our focus remains on working safely and closely with the Trust and iFM Bolton to ensure disruption to clinical services is minimised and consideration for the local community is upheld.”
determined, a committed pipeline, drawing on lessons learnt from expiry and also what has worked well across a number of successful national programmes to deliver social infrastructure at pace and scale. It is an incredibly exciting opportunity for collaboration across the public and private sector and we look forward to supporting the development and delivery of this next-generation PPP model and programme.”
Progress made in Bolton maternity works
Major progress is being made on the redevelopment of the Princess Anne Maternity and Women’s Health Unit at Royal Bolton Hospital. The £38m redevelopment
programme by Robertson Construction North West is transforming maternity facilities while removing RAAC identified within parts of the building in 2023. Once complete, the unit will deliver modern facilities designed to support women, babies, and families in Bolton and beyond. One of the most significant developments is the redevelopment of one of the maternity theatres. Robertson continues to make progress removing RAAC and replacing affected parts of the roof to future proof the structure, pioneering a UK-first construction solution with an inflatable tent in place of traditional scaffold for the roof repair works, helping to minimise disruption to the hospital.
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