Chris Norris from Siniat, a frequent supplier of plasterboard for NHS projects, looks at the estates challenges facing the service, and how good building material choices can directly impact on patient outcomes.
When taking up his post earlier this year, Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, made it all too clear: the NHS needs to unleash ‘more health and care bangs for the buck’. Payments to hospitals are now explicitly linked to quality of care, and the patient experience. But what part, if any, can the built environment play? According to the King’s Fund, and its recent report, NHS buildings: obstacle or opportunity,1 the answer is a significant one.
Soundproofing, air quality, durability, and maintenance, are all critical considerations, and with extensive refurbishments and new-builds on the agenda, NHS estates teams have their work cut out – the goal: care-centred environments that deliver best value from tight budgets. Intelligent building material choices have a critical role to play.
The power of plasterboard
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