Crisis or opportunity?

HBN’s and general guidance for healthcare environments are out of date and not fit-for-purpose for modern applications. For example, HTM63/71 core pieces of FF&E guidance were first published in the 1980s and last updated in 2005.

Best practise for healthcare environments has evolved since these times to suit modern ways of working and the evolving clinical demands of the 21st century. This was heavily experienced during the covid19 pandemic in which working practises and processes were forced to change rapidly.

Processes and PEE were transformed during the pandemic, but old-stye space designs and furniture continue to make infection-fighting harder. This can be seen in the £2.7 billion that is spent every year combatting Healthcare Associated Infections. In turn, the HCAIs contribute to 69,000 days of staff absenteeism.

This increased pressure on bed availability along with the dating estate have forced the NHS heavily into new projects and builds. On average, 2/3 projects run over on programme and budget.