Safe use of oxygen cylinders
Guidance has recently been issued by NHS England on the safe use of oxygen cylinders: NHS Estates Collaboration Hub.
This reiterates current best practice in the use of oxygen gas cylinders and asks organisations to undertake a risk assessment of all acute clinical areas where patients are treated without immediate access to medical gas pipeline systems, and oxygen cylinders are required.
National Estates and Facilities Uniform Project
As part of the National Estates and Facilities Uniform Project, NHS Supply Chain launched an online survey to understand what uniform items people currently wear and what items people would like to wear in the future. The survey deadline is today (January 20, 2023).
We would like to thank those colleagues who have already completed the survey and will feed back on the outcome in due course.
ERIC 2021/22 (National Webinar)
The webinar link and joining instructions have been sent to all of our listed E&F contacts ahead of this national webinar which takes place on January 26 at 11am. The webinar will cover the results of the latest publication, changes to validations and key changes for ERIC 2022/23.
NHS E&F colleagues who are interested in attending and have not received this communication should contact: [email protected] marked for the attention of Tom McHugh and John Showalter.
Amazing Apprenticeships – National Apprenticeship Week
Amazing Apprenticeships has launched a set of resources in preparation for National Apprenticeship Week (February 6 - 12, 2023). The resources can support employers to plan events and communications in the run-up to and throughout National Apprenticeship Week. Click HERE for information.
NHS Health Careers - Step into the NHS Schools Competition
NHS Health Careers is looking for judges and ambassadors from an NHS background to champion its schools competition, Step into the NHS. Judges will watch regional winners showcase their entries via a video call in late June, before voting for an overall winner. Ambassadors will help promote the competition on their social media channels and through their local networks.
NHS Health Careers is particularly interested in hearing from NHS colleagues from an ethnic minority background to enable them to better reflect diverse communities. They aim to have a panel of judges and ambassadors which reflect the young people involved in the competition, ensuring every student has a role model. Please e-mail: [email protected] if you would like to be involved.
NHS Employer Providers now on the NUS Extra Site
The NHS is now listed as an apprenticeship provider on the NUS Extra site so now all NHS apprentices will be able to access the discounts. Previously it only applied to those on the programme with external providers. The memberships offers great discounts in a wide range of retailers: https://www.apprenticeextra.co.uk/
The Prince’s Trust: Health and Social Career Insight Sessions
Are you passionate about inspiring young people and showcasing the wide range of exciting opportunities in health and social care? Then become a guest speaker at one the Prince’s Trust Health and Social Care 101 career insight sessions.
The sessions aim to motivate and inspire young people to consider one of the many amazing careers in the health and social care sector. The Prince’s Trust is looking for passionate guest speakers from clinical and non-clinical roles to join one of the 101 Career Insight sessions and deliver a short 5–10-minute talk and answer questions from young people.
There are several 101 sessions planned in 2023. Please contact Natalie White to register your interest: [email protected]
Join the National EFM Workforce Engagement Forum
We had a record number of attendees at January’s Workforce Engagement Forum (WEF), with around 100 estates and facilities managers, HR specialists and partner organisations joining us to discuss how we overcome current recruitment challenges. The next WEF is on Thursday, March 2 at 1pm when we will be focusing on the national uniform project and our employer brand. E-mail: [email protected] to be added to the meeting invitation list and look out for our 2023/2024 WEF programme. In the meantime please save the following dates:
• March 2, 2023
• June 8, 2023
• September 7, 2023
• December 7, 2023
• March 7, 2024
All of these meetings start at 1pm.
National Webinars
Please note the following dates in your diaries:
• January 26 - ERIC 2021/22
• February 23 - Waste Management (TBC)
• March 09 - Hospital Helipad Landing Sites
• March 30 - Apprenticeship Challenge (One Year On)
• April 27 - Public Switched Telephone Network: Service Closure
• May 25 - Medical Gases Pipeline Services.
These sessions are run by members of the national Estates and Facilities team. The webinar links and joining instructions will be sent to all listed E&F contacts in due course. NHS staff who are not on our contacts list and would like to attend these sessions should e-mail: [email protected] marked for the attention of Tom McHugh and John Showalter to request an invitation. These sessions will take place from 11am until 12:30pm.
The recordings from the national webinars which have taken place to date are all available from the NHS Estates Collaboration Hub.
NHS Estates and Facilities contact e-mail addresses
The e-mail addresses for both the National Estates and Facilities Team and the NHS Estates Collaboration Hub are:
• [email protected] and
NHS Estates and Facilities - Monthly Bulletin
The last Bulletin was issued on December 16. The bulletin provides updates directly from NHS England’s NHS Estates and Facilities Team including the latest guidance, health technical memoranda and policy developments affecting your work, as well as celebrating the successes of the wider E&F community. NHS staff can register to receive future editions of the newsletter. The next edition is expected to be issued in the week commencing January 23.
NHS Estates 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]
We have been arranging masterclasses to help registered members understand and navigate the Hub more effectively. If you are interested in attending one of these sessions then please e-mail the above mailbox.
If your e-mail address has changed (perhaps to .nhs.net), or you have moved to another NHS Trust then please e-mail us with the details ([email protected]) so that we can update our records.
You can also follow our latest news and updates on the NHS Estates and Facilities LinkedIn page.
