The first housing development exclusively for clinical staff will open in Salford to help plug an acute staff shortage in the NHS. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with housing association Salix Homes to provide a 26-apartment complex for doctors, nurses and other clinical staff who work at
Law firm, Sintons has continued to build its national reputation in healthcare through its latest major NHS framework appointment. The Newcastle-based firm, one of the UK’s leading specialist healthcare advisors, has been appointed to the legal services framework of the NHS Shared Business Services (NHSSBS), a body which provides business
The first tenants of the ‘FitHome’ village in Dalmore, Alness, have been welcomed. The Saltire Award-winning concept that unites the priorities of healthcare, housing provision and tenant welfare was delivered by Albyn Housing Society, in partnership with Carbon Dynamic and NHS Highland. As a concept, the ‘FitHome’ aims to help
Following the successful completion of the low-carbon energy project that took place at Cheltenham General Hospital, Vital Energi has signed a contract with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in order to carry out a second project. This new project will mean that the Trust will, overall save more than £13.4
According to Plimsoll Analysis, Actavo Building solutions is the fastest growing modular building company in the UK. They have also now been awarded a place on the NHS construction framework. The company has been awarded several lots as a part of the new four-year modular building framework for the NHS.
An NHS body has opened bidding for a four-year public sector contract valued at £50m. Types of work to be delivered under the NHS London Procurement Partnership deal include building surveying services, civil engineering services and project management services. Interested parties have until 30 March to submit expressions of interest.
As outlined in a new set of guidelines for procurement (as put together by Sajid Javid, Business Secretary), areas of corporate social responsibility and economic accountability are to be placed on the shoulder of key, large-scale public sector bodies. To include organisations such as the NHS, Highways England and Network
The first housing development exclusively for clinical staff will open in Salford to help plug an acute staff shortage in the NHS. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with housing association Salix Homes to provide a 26-apartment complex for doctors, nurses and other clinical staff who work at the organisation. It comes after the Trust revealed it was struggling to fill 200 vacancies, with the lack of affordable accommodation one of the barriers to attracting people to the area. Ian Moston, group chief finance officer for Salford Royal, said “Like most organisations in the NHS we have a significant number of vacancies. Our partnership with Salix Homes will provide a major benefit to us in helping to attract people to work and settle in Salford. “For the majority of us, the ability to live close to where we work is an important part of balancing work and home life. Through this partnership with Salix Homes we hope to provide people choosing to come to Salford with good quality, affordable housing whilst they establish themselves in the City on a long term basis. “We hope this venture with Salix Homes is the first of many areas where we believe we can collaborate to improve the health and wellbeing of people living and working in Salford, and the area and can become a template for other communities.” Salix Homes has spent more than £2million converting the former sheltered housing complex Alexander Gardens in Broughton into modern one and two bedroom apartments. The project was partially funded thanks to a £780,000 grant from Homes England Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme. Alexander Gardens on Gorton Street has stood empty since the Boxing Day 2015 floods after the former residents were re-housed when their homes were damaged by the worst flooding to hit Salford in decades. Since that fateful night, extensive flood resilience measures have been implemented within the facility and the wider area to help protect against future floods. Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, said: “It’s no secret that the country is in the grips of a housing crisis, but it really brings it home when our own local hospital cannot recruit staff due to a severe shortage of suitable and affordable accommodation. “In the year our wonderful NHS turns 70, we are very proud to be able to offer a solution to provide affordable accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health professionals and help ensure our NHS can continue the fantastic work it does for another 70 years and beyond. “We believe this project to be among the first of its kind in the country and shows the importance of the health and housing industries working together to help overcome some of the most critical issues facing our sectors.” Salix Homes, which owns more than 8,000 homes across Salford, has worked alongside its partner contractor A.Connolly Ltd to completely transform and remodel the facility to create 16 two-bedroom and 10 one-bedroom apartments. Salford Royal intends to let the homes to new recruits for a period of six months in a bid to encourage more medical professionals to come to Salford to work, and reduce its reliance on agency staff. The fully-furnished properties, kitted out by north-west based Fusion Furniture, will be let as part of a comprehensive employment package provided by Salford Royal and will be available for single people, couples and families. Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “This unique project is one we are extremely proud of in Salford. Salix Homes and the NHS have worked closely together to pull this together, in conjunction with our bid to Homes England to support the scheme. “There is a national shortage of affordable homes –and a national crisis in housing – so anything that can support the fabulous staff who work tirelessly for the NHS and bring more of their workers to our city is welcomed.” The project has also provided work and opportunities for local people. Chris Connolly, commercial director at contractors A Connolly Ltd, added: “Supporting communities is important to us and we have employed local people through our partnership with Salix Homes, as well as recruiting two apprentices through the Build Salford project. “A.Connolly Ltd is pleased to have played a part in this unique scheme which will enable more medical professionals to live and work in Salford. “Major refurbishment work is in of our key specialisms and we were delighted to be able to use our expertise to support Salix Homes in bringing this building back into use.” The refurbishment and remodelling work is expected to be completed this summer and it’s hoped the first residents will move in during October.
Law firm, Sintons has continued to build its national reputation in healthcare through its latest major NHS framework appointment. The Newcastle-based firm, one of the UK’s leading specialist healthcare advisors, has been appointed to the legal services framework of the NHS Shared Business Services (NHSSBS), a body which provides business support services to the NHS with the aim of delivering efficiencies and increased quality. Following a competitive tender process, Sintons has won a place on the organisation’s legal services framework for the first time, which will see it being able to provide services to NHS Trusts and other bodies across the country. Sintons has been appointed to all eleven lots tendered by NHS SBS covering legal practice areas including NHS governance and public law, primary care, mental health law, employment law, commercial, property, construction, IT, corporate finance and PFI/PPP projects. The appointment will be initially for two years from June 1, 2018, with an option to extend for a further two years. This follows last year’s appointment to the North of England NHS Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC) which works with more than 80 high-level NHS organisations across England. Amanda Maskery, partner and head of NHS healthcare at Sintons, said: “Our team has worked hard to build its reputation in the healthcare sector, and we have become trusted specialist advisors to NHS Trusts, GPs, dentists and other healthcare organisations across the UK. “Our latest appointment to the NHS SBS legal services framework is a further endorsement of our capability, expertise and genuine understanding of the complexities of the NHS, which very few other law firms can rival. “We are delighted to be working with NHS SBS in supporting them to achieve their ambitious cost savings targets for the NHS, and our healthcare team is well equipped and ideally placed to assist.”
The first tenants of the ‘FitHome’ village in Dalmore, Alness, have been welcomed. The Saltire Award-winning concept that unites the priorities of healthcare, housing provision and tenant welfare was delivered by Albyn Housing Society, in partnership with Carbon Dynamic and NHS Highland. As a concept, the ‘FitHome’ aims to help people live safe, well and independently in their communities for longer by using cutting edge data-gathering technology and Artificial Intelligence to help detect the onset of ill health and potentially even prevent episodes such as falls. New tenant, 19 year old Dylan Bogue who lives with muscular dystrophy said: “This will be a life-changing concept for some individuals, including me, and importantly their extended families. Nobody will have to worry about their elderly relatives, or younger relatives for that matter, being on their own if they fall or have an accident. Most importantly, residents can stay in their home, in the community that they have grown with for as long as they feel able to.” The project has received support and official endorsement from Highland MSP Maree Todd. At a recent parliamentary event she spoke of the project saying: “This project is an exemplary showcase of innovation coming out of the Highlands that demonstrates how cross-sectoral working in areas such as housing, health, care, construction, education and training can lead to pioneering new approaches that keep Scotland at the leading edge.” The project concepts have been supported by a Scottish Government housing grant, funding from the Inverness and Highland City–Region Deal and finance from Triodos Bank, Europes’s leading sustainable bank that only funds projects that create positive social, cultural or environmental value. “Scottish innovations are globally renowned and the FitHome is a gigantic leap forward in social care. At Triodos, we work to make sure that projects like this get the funding and financial support they need to have a positive impact on the local community. The FitHome is a game-changer when it comes to helping people live independent and inclusive lives,” said Graeme Galloway, Relationship Manager at Triodos Bank UK. The Data Lab – the Scottish Innovation Centre charged with generating economic, social and scientific value from big data – is also supporting the project by funding research into predicting falls, which is being led by Professor Susan Craw, an Artificial Intelligence expert at Robert Gordon University.
Following the successful completion of the low-carbon energy project that took place at Cheltenham General Hospital, Vital Energi has signed a contract with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in order to carry out a second project. This new project will mean that the Trust will, overall save more than £13.4 million over the course of their contract terms. This new energy project has been procured by the Carbon & Energy Fund, for whom Vital Energi will design and install a 2.5MW CHP system, which will then be incorporated into the Trust’s existing electrical, heating and hot water systems used at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Vital Energi will be working with a local distribution network operator, WPD in order to deliver a new High Voltage electricity supply that will be able to supply the hospital with an increased electricity supply resilience to the hospital estate. This electricity supply can also connect the CHP unit to the national grid. One the work has been completed at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Vital Energi will then provide a fully managed energy service which will take place over a 15-year term that will also include the operation, maintenance and lifecycle services of the new CHP system as well as the Trust’s existing steam and hot water boilers installed at two energy centers in the hospital. This energy project with Vital Energi will save Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust more than £750,000 each year and reduce the Trust’s carbon emissions by another 2,800 tonnes each year. These savings mean that across the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital, the energy projects that have been delivered by Vital Energi will save in excess of £13 million and will cut CO2 emissions by more than 80,000 tonnes over the course of Vital Energi’s 15-year contract term with the Trust.
According to Plimsoll Analysis, Actavo Building solutions is the fastest growing modular building company in the UK. They have also now been awarded a place on the NHS construction framework. The company has been awarded several lots as a part of the new four-year modular building framework for the NHS. This work is set to be valued at £750 million. The NHS is struggling currently, with the availability of beds on the NHS being at an all-time low it is essential that there is a great deal of investment in order to increase the facilities available in a time frame which is incredibly narrow. To solve this, the NHS has come up with a framework that will focus purely on the supply of modular buildings. It is hoped that this work will allow faster, cheaper and greener production of space that will also help out the demand on the NHS. This NHS framework has been split into 11 separate lots. Actavo is one of many successful contractors, and will also fulfil the role of principle contractor in order to provide a variety of different services including full architectural design for the initial concept, as well as site works, and the completion of bespoke modular buildings to be used as health care units or education units. The speed and efficiency of modular buildings means there could be a massive project delivered in weeks rather than months. This is ideal considering the pressure the NHS is under to source more space. Over the course of the next four years, this new project should reduce the pressure for beds as well as reduce the need for short-term hire options which could save money. These buildings are not just being built for the quick fix, they can be constructed over a short space of time however the buildings should be able to last in the long term.
An NHS body has opened bidding for a four-year public sector contract valued at £50m. Types of work to be delivered under the NHS London Procurement Partnership deal include building surveying services, civil engineering services and project management services. Interested parties have until 30 March to submit expressions of interest. The official notice in OJEU did not specify how many firms would be appointed, but said new firms could join the contract at any point during its lifetime. NHS trusts, bodies providing NHS services and other public sector bodies will be able to use the contract. The NHS LPP opened a £750m framework for construction works across the public sector in January. That 10-lot framework will be broken into regional areas and will focus on different types and values of work, including modular projects. Read more at https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/projects/contracts/bidding-opens-for-50m-nhs-deal/10017763.article
As outlined in a new set of guidelines for procurement (as put together by Sajid Javid, Business Secretary), areas of corporate social responsibility and economic accountability are to be placed on the shoulder of key, large-scale public sector bodies. To include organisations such as the NHS, Highways England and Network Rail, the guidance will see responsibility for social and economic impacts laid upon such organisations for the importing of steel; instead, encouraging the use of British steel. To be applied to all projects greater in value than £10m, clients will also be expected to look at other core areas of corporate social responsibility such as: carbon emissions, sourcing standards, the transportation of materials abroad, as well as areas of social importance such as health and safety – specifically for the staff of the suppliers themselves. As such, those organisations successful in securing public sector contracts will then also need to promote steel requirements direct to UK-based producers so as best to ensure that British businesses are provided with ample opportunity to both compete for, and secure supply contracts on an equal playing field. The guidelines themselves are expected to bring a level of assurance to the continuity of the UK steel market, allowing those organisations in the sector to better tap into the colossal £300bn expected to be spent on the major UK infrastructure developments already highlighted for across the country over the next few years. The announcement itself follows swiftly after Tata Steel’s expression of interest in selling its UK businesses, which presently includes the biggest steel mill in the country; something which heralded great concern for the future prosperity of the wider industry. Sajid Javid explained: “By changing the procurement rules on these major infrastructure projects, we are backing the future of UK steel – opening up significant opportunities for UK suppliers and allowing them to compete more effectively with international companies.”
