Although public and private sector budgets are normally very tight, extra funding can sometimes unexpectedly become available. This may be from the cancellation of a larger project, un-spent year-end budget, a new Government initiative or grant, or a benevolent donation.
The Spending Challenge!
It can be quite challenging for Hospital Capital projects and Estates teams to know where to spend funds when they are available to ensure that they used for maximum benefit to the hospital and staff. This can be especially difficult if there is a tight deadline for when the funds are needing to be spent by.
Plus, this is the public, taxpayers money and it is important it is used wisely for maximum impact in the shortest time.
Nursing Staff are normally under a lot of pressure caring for patients. The time and effort to make improvements to spaces can make it seem impossible to be able to take advantage of the opportunity to spend money on what will make the most difference. Plus there is the need to minimise a negative impact on patient care in the short-term
Beneficial Uses for Extra Funding
Many hospitals have clinical rooms and drug preparation areas that are in a poor condition or just not operationally efficient.
For example, many have broken and chipped doors and worktops. This creates issues for cleaning processes, taking additional time and resource to follow infection prevention guidelines. It is critical that clinical spaces are designed to reduce the possibility of an infection breakout. Addressing this effectively with minimum impact on patient care can provide huge benefits in a short space of time.
Storage of medicines and medical equipment is often chaotic, wasting time locating what is needed, running out of essential or letting products go out of date. All costly issues that can be avoided by designing and fitting solutions tailored to the need.
Designing the layout of a space can also improve efficiencies, freeing up more time for patient care. Really understanding who is using a space and for what purposes, then creating a workflow around the fixtures and fittings. Also options such as colour coding or zoning different areas to make it easier to navigate even in the smallest of rooms.
Minimising Workloads & Disruption
There are curated storage solutions which can be delivered and installed as a complete package to minimise disruption to normal hospital activities. Still medical grade quality and designed to maximise space utilisation and minimise maintenance. But based on experience of creating solutions for multiple clinical rooms with a faster turnaround to generate impactful benefits quickly.
For larger improvements it works best to work to a rolling programme giving time to make the changes needed between each ward to create minimal upheaval for nursing staff.
Working with a supplier who can provide storage trolleys and temporary workstations will also avoid having to decant whole wards at a time, which is often not possible.
Getting it Right First Time
The clinical environment is tough. Products are subject to intensive regular use, and it is particularly important that products are made from durable materials that are fit for the purpose intended.
NHS budgets are too precious to spend on solutions that won’t last and will need replacing in a few years. Considering the full lifetime cost of using the correct materials will ensure the best use of limited taxpayer funds Tempting as it maybe to use any extra funding on cheaper products for short term wins, this can be false economy.
For example, foil wrapped doors, often used on domestic kitchen cabinets, look well sealed and offer an array of colours and finishes. But they are not impact resistant and will easily become damaged, which creates an infection control issue.
Ultimately, the core function of a hospital is patient care. Making sure clinical staff have an efficient and modern working environment which is easy to maintain will provide long lasting benefits. Improving not only patient care and outcomes, but also Hospital CQC ratings.
Investing in clinical storage and space solutions can be a quick win when extra funding becomes available. Contact us now to discuss your project.
