25.06.15
The NHS still has a dysfunctional relationship with its estate – CHP
NHS buildings can act as a focal point to deliver and drive change at trusts across the country, but those in the health service still have a “dysfunctional relationship” with the estate, according to Antek Lejk, executive director and partnering lead at Community Health Partnerships (CHP).
Speaking in London on the first day of the Commissioning Show yesterday, he stated that there are lots of examples where high-quality buildings are not being used in the “right way”.
Lejk, who for the past 20 years has worked mostly within the NHS spending nine years as CEO of two NHS trusts and a primary care trust, said that money is always going to be a challenge, especially during austerity measures and rising demand, but things will need to be done differently to deliver future integrated models of care and savings.
He stated that taking a strategic approach is important in this work to deliver new infrastructure models and there is a great importance in getting the right leadership people together to develop, understand and commit to achieving a common outcome.
The Department of Health has just launched its Local Estates Strategy and Lejk said that CHP will advise 96 CCGs and NHSPS will advise114 in how best to deliver these strategies and services.
Dedicated teams from Community Health Partnerships and NHS Property Services will provide independent expertise with a real customer focus, understanding that different approaches might be needed in different healthcare systems. The aim is to help commissioners drive real value that leads to tangible improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the estate that is fit for the future.
Asked what the incentive was for CHP, by CCG members who said they are struggling to see this leadership and support on the frontline, Lejk said if we don’t improve things and half our estate is empty then our credibility is blown.
Full coverage of this session and the entire Health + Care and Commissioning Show will be in the July/August edition of NHE.
NHE is the media partner of the Commissioning Show.