Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Challenge

Rampton Hospital is one of three high security hospitals in England and forms part of the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Providing a maintenance service within this environment presents a unique challenge with many of the complexities of an acute hospital combined with the security measures of a high security environment.

There is a significant volume of reactive tasks following patient activity and the challenge is to provide a rapid response that considers the sensitive nature of the facilities and respects building users.

Solution

We have been providing hard facilities management services to Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for 20 years at Rampton Hospital and across the forensic division. 

We have developed bespoke protocols in partnership with the client which recognise that individual care units within each facility have different requirements for access and activity. Careful planning across the engineers, sub-contractors, helpdesk, and a good working relationship with the various care units, enables repairs and maintenance activities to be carried out with minimal disruption.

The relationship with the Trust has always been based upon a true partnership approach and a ‘one team’ culture. The contract operates on the NEC 3 TSC terms and conditions, with open book accounting and a genuine partnership approach.

Outcome

We have implemented a number of innovations and improvements across the Trust’s estate, including upgrading car park and estate street lighting to LEDs, LED light upgrades to a new entry building and an upgrade to the digital platform security systems. We have also created a centralised stores area to hold vital equipment for all sites under our control, provided a security systems maintenance manager, and implemented a monthly target cost mechanism which ensures best value is achieved. 

The result of these activities and utilising best value from all suppliers has meant that we have continually generated savings for the Trust against the target cost. 

We draw our team from the local area, with the majority of staff living within a 20-mile radius of the hospitals. Through our commitment to local employment and training, we have supported and mentored two members of the team to become fully qualified Mechanical and Electrical Engineers.  

We have also supported the Trust with its community activities, the largest project being the construction of a skateboard park for local residents. In a joint venture, we also designed and installed a special flowerbed commemorating Rampton Hospital’s centenary year. The design for the flowerbed is based on that of the centenary flag which was created by patients at the hospital.