* N othing - the Trust believes it has the m ost appropriate m anagem ent o f space utilisation because it is driven by business pressures.
H e a l t h c a r e
P r iv a te S e c t o r 4
Healthcare:
Private Sector 4
In d iv id u a l: Building Projects M anager O rg a n is a tio n : Healthcare Provident A ssociation E s ta te D ata: G.I.A. 184,000 sq m
B ac k g ro u n d :
The A ssociation is formed o f three groups: H ealthcare Insurance, H ospitals and N ursing Homes. The N ursing Homes group is m anaged separately and excluded from this study. The A ssociation has recently rationalised its L ondon offices from 5 sites into one H eadquarters building to accom m odate its corporate m anagem ent and national facilities team. The option o f relocating outside o f the M25 was considered but rejected for reasons o f prestige. There are 2 regional adm inistrative centres serving the insurance group for the north and south o f the country. There has been recent investm ent in these centres and the structure o f a London headquarters and regional "back offices" is firm ly established.
A leasehold property in a south coast tow n is being used to house som e discrete operations o f the A ssociation that w ould ideally be sited elsew here w ere it not for the financial com m itm ent to the property.
Telesales operations have been gather into the regional centres from the previous district office arrangem ent. This service operates 24 hours per day. Insurance salesm en are now based at the hom es rather than an office. No change is expected in this arrangem ent for at least 5 years.
The H ospital group operates 36 hospitals throughout the British Isles ranging from a 26 bed wing o f an N .H .S. hospital to 90 bed stand alone units. Typical bed capacity is about 60 beds. D istribution is based on Private M edical Insurance penetration o f the local population. The A ssociation’s hospitals are accredited by the K ings Fund G roup; an independent H ealthcare body, who inspect physical and clinical standards.
The Property D ivision has recently transferred from the Finance D irectorate and is now within the Property and Purchasing D irectorate. A new Finance D irector has been appointed and is dem anding accurate space data.
D rawings are currently paper based and held centrally and locally. N o database o f areas exists. Space A udits are not conducted. Hospitals are run as overall cost centres. There is no direct space charging system for individual departm ents w ithin a hospital site.
The Hospital G roup does not have a national Estate Strategy but there are sem i-form al developm ent control plans for individual sites.
OPINIONS EXPRESSED:
General.
* Com m unications technology allow s telesales to operate from an individual’s home but it is felt that group w orking in a com pany office is most appropriate for the business. * There is probably an excess o f private bed provision in the country. There is probably an excess o f private beds in total. There is unlikely to be a need for further beds or hospitals.
* Some private hospitals are likely to close in response to m arket pressures.
* There m ay be a need for new provision o f specialist services. These are most likely to be provided by adapting existing facilities.
* The A ssociation’s core business is the provision o f healthcare insurance. This will be facilitated by arrangem ent w ith the m ost appropriate provider; not necessarily with the A ssociation’s hospital group.
* Recent shift from 60 : 40 inpatient (bed) : outpatient services to 40 : 60 ratio is likely to stabilise for a period. This shift is driving changes in space allocation and utilisation.
What will happen regarding space utilisation management?:
* CA D FM systems will be introduced next year. Space charging system s will be introduced following the CA D FM data. These w ill identify prem ises costs at departm ent level.
* Space A uditing will be introduced on a form al basis to m eet the dem ands o f the Finance Director.
* D epreciation o f property and equipm ent w ill be added to the profit / loss accounts. * Efforts to im prove tim e utilisation will be m ade to fill em pty sessions during weekday
office hours when m edical personnel are occupied by their N .H .S. duties.
What should happen regarding space utilisation?:
* M ost o f the above - long argued for by the Property professionals.
* The A ssociation should take a m ore com m ercial approach. Personnel historically draw n largely from the N .H .S. and the m indset continues. The Insurance Group has been tackled and Hospitals w ill follow.