Inpatient Accommodation
Standardisation’s many benefits outlined
Facilitating improved healthcare environments while saving both capital and operational costs, the ProCure21+ Repeatable Rooms and Standardised Components initiative is already delivering value. As David Kershaw, jointly appointed P21+ Principal Supply Chain Partner (PSCP) Programme director, reports, having initially focused principally on the acute healthcare sector, the initiative now also encompasses mental healthcare inpatient accommodation.
The Repeatable Rooms and Standardised Components initiative – part of the ProCure21+ National Framework – is delivering a rigorously tested, proven range of repeatable room arrangements and standardised components that can dramatically cut the cost of healthcare buildings, and making these designs available for sharing throughout the NHS. The most recent development has been the addition of two mental health repeatable rooms for functional and organic mental health conditions, with a range of suitable accompanying components. With all NHS Trusts focusing on efficiency of
capital and investment in buildings, and the design and construction process, repeatability of designs offers a key route to maximising capital performance. At a national seminar in April 2013 in London, 95% of NHS Trusts attending voted in favour of a move towards standardisation of rooms and components. Government chief construction advisor, Peter Hansford, commends the initiative to the NHS: “The Standardisation initiative represents a well thought-out, realistic means of maintaining the quality of capital construction, while simultaneously maintaining and improving on a high standard of patient care, as facilitated by the estate.” Equally, the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Health, Dr Dan Poulter, is enthusiastic: “I would like to see these good designs in use at local level, saving every Trust money that can be put into frontline patient care,” he says.
PROCUREMENT AND PROGRAMME TIME SAVINGS Having myself overseen the development work to date, I would say that the procurement and programme time savings, in terms of speed to market, are potentially dramatic – and of course the designs are based on proven, consistent quality known to impact positively on patient
26 THE NETWORK April 2015
healthcare outcomes. However, the savings are not just about cost, and are not just realised during the construction phase. Some benefits extend into the building’s operational life – such as the reduction in risk to patients and staff, and the increase in staff efficiency, that arise from familiarity with a repeated layout.
ROBUST AND ‘TRIED AND TESTED’ In short, the Repeatable Rooms programme achieves improvements in patient outcomes, while achieving cost-savings required by Government and in the interests of the NHS. It is a robust, tried and tested means of adding extra value to capital schemes – and is as applicable to new-build (traditional or modular pre-fabricated manufacturing methods, on- or off-site construction), as it is to refurbishment schemes. The outputs of the Repeatable Rooms programme are impressive. In the mental health sector, repeatable rooms are available for functional and organic mental health conditions (see Fig. 1), while in the acute sector, the repeatable rooms include a single bedroom with en suite, a four-bed bay, and a consult/examination room. A range of standardised components for mental health and acute settings include hard and soft
‘With all NHS Trusts focusing on efficiency of capital and investment in buildings, and the design and construction process, repeatability of designs offers a key route to maximising capital performance’
flooring, doors and doorsets, suspended ceilings, lighting, sanitaryware, and radiant panels, individually offering savings between 18% and 40% on normal market pricing. All rooms are functionally compliant with the Department of Health’s Health Building Notes (HBNs) and Design Manual guidance.
BRINGING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS An accelerated but thorough planning and design stage has brought together stakeholders and experts from across the NHS and its supply chains. The process began with a national seminar in April 2013, which saw representatives from NHS Trusts and the ProCure21+ PSCPs gather in London to consider the benefits of a standardisation initiative. An overwhelming 95% voted to take the initiative forward. Following this, in July 2013 over 150 studies and research papers on patient outcomes related to the healthcare environment were gathered, reviewed, and critically assessed. Evidence was drawn up into a matrix for easy reference. Exemplars of good design from ProCure21+, PFI, Design and Build, and other procurement methods, were compiled into assessment schedules, and reviewed against the evidence matrix. The proposed designs and components
were subjected to scrutiny by patient groups, experts from the NHS, and the construction industry, and representatives of the Royal Colleges. A set of technical reviews tested the designs using real-life processes. Repeatable
Figure 1: In the mental health sector, repeatable rooms are available for functional and organic mental health conditions.
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