Below are this week’s key messages from the national NHS Estates & Facilities Team. Please email any questions or comments you have on any of these items to [email protected] or follow the links where provided.
Estates and Facilities Online Forum – ONE WEEK TO GO
The agenda and registration arrangements for this exciting event remain open. Speakers on the day include: Edward Argar MP (Minister of State for Heath), Prerana Issar, Sandra Easton, Simon Corben, Fiona Daly, Adrian Eggleton and Craig McWilliam.
We are really pleased to confirm that Emily Lawson will be providing the closing address. Emily is the NHS Chief Commercial Officer who is currently heading up the COVID National Vaccination Programme and her responsibilities also include estates and facilities.
Click here to see the full agenda
You should also be able to register from this link as well.
It is great to see the really high level of interest in the forum which continues to grow by the day. All of the sessions will be available ‘on demand’ following the event. As well as being free to attend, the forum has also been CPD certified.
Thanks to all those members of the estates and facilities community who have submitted questions for Edward Argar MP (Minister of State for Health). Further questions to the minister are still welcome and if it is not possible to answer on the day they will be addressed following the event. Any further questions should continue to posted to [email protected] marking for the attention of Tom McHugh and Sophie Shemwell.
Expert Hospital Food Panel – your opportunity to get involved
NHS England and NHS Improvement is looking for a group of dynamic individuals with a real passion for food to support the delivery of excellent patient care. Following the publication of the Secretary of State’s Independent Hospital Food Review in 2020 it was announced that an expert panel would be created to progress and monitor the recommendations of the review.
We’re seeing massive interest in this opportunity, so please register your interest as quickly as possible.
There are nine places on the panel which include the roles of chef, catering manager, clinician, nurse and dietary expert. The opportunity is open to staff at all levels and the project will run for two years.
Information about this was also cascaded to the NHS via Amanda Pritchard’s “Leader’s Bulletin” on March 5.
Expressions of interest should be sent to [email protected] marked clearly for the attention of Emma Brookes & Phil Shelley. These should be received no later than 5pm on Friday 26 March 2021.
Please follow the national NHS Estates and Infrastructure team on twitter @EstatesNHS
COVID-19: General Update and the National Vaccination Programme
We would like to thank you for continued engagement with the weekly surveys to-date. The responses are really important in helping NHS England and NHS Improvement as an organisation to shape how we engage with our healthcare workforce.
While the situation continues to improve, it remains as important as ever for those healthcare workers who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of patients to remain safe themselves. This is especially applicable to the estates and facilities profession. Please continue to make use of the resource materials which are available now for use by estates and facilities teams to encourage staff vaccination take-up. These can be accessed from the Collaboration Hub.
National Webinars
Over 1,000 estates and facilities colleagues have joined the recent national webinars facilitated by the national team. We are grateful for the positive engagement and if there are subject areas which you would like to see covered in the future then please e-mail [email protected] marking for the attention of Tom McHugh and Linda Hood.
The next national webinar on Backlog Maintenance and ERIC reporting has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 24 at 11:30am.
Invitations have already been sent to estates and facilities directors/teams. However, if you would like further information or to request an invitation then please e-mail [email protected] marking for the attention of Linda Hood.
Virtual Contract Management Network Event
The DHSC Commercial Capability and Supplier Management Team is holding a Virtual Contract Management Network Event. It will feature talks on the latest commercial activities in the health family, provide commercial updates, learning and help build a network of contract managers.
This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone involved in contract management to better understand the commercial skills and capabilities that are available across the health family. This invitation is extended to estates and facilities teams. It would be great for local NHS teams to be well represented at this event.
The virtual event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 31 from 1pm to 4pm. If you are interested please keep this time free and contact [email protected] for further information, or to request inclusion on the invitation list.
NHS England and NHS Improvement National Estates Team: Collaboration Hub
The Collaboration Hub is a protected space for local NHS estates and facilities teams to access key information as well as to collaborate and to share ideas and successes. Access to the Collaboration Hub for individuals from local NHS estates teams can be arranged by e-mailing [email protected]
Thank You
Our thanks to all of those working in estates and facilities for all that you in maintaining the NHS estate, facilitating patient care as well as supporting the response to the current pandemic. The service could not function without you.