VIDEO | How to bring ageing hospital estates into the 21st century

Fresh approaches around design, funding, and delivery are urgently required if patients are to get the care they deserve, according to experts at a roundtable discussion hosted by Robertson Group. 

The government’s New Hospitals Programme is faltering and as a result, the condition of our healthcare estates is getting worse. Meanwhile, experts from across the industry are hard at work getting plans in place for modern healthcare estates that could change the way we think about hospitals. 

Participants 

• Olivia Carr, associate director, Turley 
• Michelle Humphreys, director of strategic projects at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust 
• Richard Yates, operations manager, Robertson Group 
• Sheldon Walsh, partner, Ryder Architecture 
• Simon Bedford, partner, Deloitte 
• Mark Lewis, director, Gleeds 
• Ged Couser, principal, BDP 
• Chaired by Dan Whelan, senior reporter, Place North West 

Key talking points 

One of the biggest issues facing hospitals is capacity. For new and existing hospitals to work more effectively, more services must be moved out of the main estates and into the community or online to free up space for other functions. 

The perception of hospitals is in need of an overhaul. At present, they are viewed negatively but that doesn’t have to be the case. Repositioning hospitals at community assets that do more than merely treat sick people is an important part of maximising the potential of hospitals for local communities. 

The way the government builds and maintains hospitals is not working. A fresh approach to funding and delivery, that takes a holistic view, harnesses the expertise of the private sector, and embraces collaboration is required. 

You can hear highlights from the roundtable in the video at the top of this article, as well as on the Place North West YouTube channel. 

Learn more about Robertson Construction robertson.co.uk.