Capital Estates Team of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
We are a small “in house” design team (6 designers, and an Admin Support role) delivering refurbishment and new build projects for the Trust. These are either designed and managed from concept to completion by the team or by employing external architects and consultants to assist, these are project managed by the team for larger projects. Although we are a small team we have over two hundred years of NHS experience between us, with members service ranging from 10 – 50 years.
This financial year (25/26) has been the most challenging I can remember, we began the year with a capital programme for delivery of circa. £5M and because of successful external bids and additional funding we are now delivering circa £13M.
Delivering these projects has been a huge team effort, not only by my team but with the help of external architects, M&E consultants, structural engineers, clinical ward staff, current and ex Service Users, and other external consultants. Regular design team meetings provided feedback from clinical staff and SU’s into the meetings via ward managers. Site security teams also played a vital role in the projects, facilitating access/ egress to the sites, including medium secure sites.
Close co-ordination between the Trust’s network of suppliers such as Kingsway Doors, Britplas Windows, Doors and Fencing, and DVS systems were critical to the delivery of the projects and the team worked closely with representatives to ensure the products were correctly specified and supplied/delivered to enable the construction programmes to be met. Further suppliers such as Salto (door access control), Benchmark (cabinetry and furniture) and Pineapple (fixed bedroom furniture) also assisted project delivery.
Close working relationships between the main building contractors and the design and clinical teams was crucial in allowing the delivery of these projects on time and within budget.
Personally, I feel that Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Trust are fortunate to have an “in house” design team capable of delivering the Trust’s capital programme. Many trusts opt for a team of project managers who out-source this work to external consultants to deliver their work.
Having a team of highly skilled and experienced staff enables the trust to not only to deliver planned capital projects, but also to react at short notice to requests from within the trust as well as external agencies as has been proven this financial year.
The team takes great pride in delivering projects which meet the needs of the services, they also share a high level of dedication to provide buildings which have the care of the patient at the heart of what they do and they would be happy to use themselves. The team facilitates projects across a wide spectrum of services including, Medium Secure Services, Adult Acute, Learning Disabilities, Medicine Delivery/management, PICU’s and dementia wards.
My team are dedicated, caring and professional, and that can be seen in the projects they deliver for the Trust year on year.
