NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has published a new guide to help healthcare estates managers make the best use of available space.

The newly-released document was developed by experts at NHSPS and outlines a clear, flexible framework for:

• Assessing space demand and property supply
• Understanding space utilisation
• Weighing options for transformation, savings, and reinvestment

It also includes expert insights from across NHSPS teams and partners, with contributions from Jenny O’Donnell, infrastructure, capital, estates and sustainability lead at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB; and Vissy Plati, senior designer at Ryder Architecture.

Simon Taylor, director of estates policy, strategy and capital projects at NHSPS, said: “Estate optimisation is now critical to meeting patient need and NHS reform.

“This guide provides NHS leaders with the right practical steps to unlock the full potential of their estate, using the expertise and knowledge of the property experts across NHSPS and the wider system.”

He added: “As the NHS continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of communities, the ability to deliver care in the right environments is becoming just as critical as funding – and is something the Government’s much-anticipated NHS 10-year Health Plan is expected to touch on.

This guide provides NHS leaders with the right practical steps to unlock the full potential of their estate, using the expertise and knowledge of the property experts across NHSPS and the wider system

“From high street drop-in centres to digitally-enabled diagnostic hubs, the future of healthcare delivery depends on transforming existing spaces and creating new ones that are flexible, sustainable, and fit for purpose.”

“Simply better understanding current space utilisation can often lead to transformative estate opportunities.

“In some cases, buildings thought to be in constant use are only 40% utilised. In others, strategic lease negotiations or repurposing office space can unlock significant savings to fund future care delivery.”