One web site for information on healthcare facilities

28 October 2009

A new technical guidance website for providers of healthcare facilities has been launched by he Department of Health with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland, Health Facilities Scotland, and Welsh Health Estates.

The new website called ‘Space for Health’, is linked to the Department of Health’s website, and brings together a whole suite of guidance (including Health Technical Memoranda, Health Building Notes and other information) into one online resource for all those involved in the procurement, management, design and planning of healthcare facilities, including NHS and non NHS providers.
Users can seamlessly shift between different pieces of guidance, and access nation-specific information, depending on whether their project is in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

It has been developed following an extensive three-year consultation period, including stakeholder events and evaluation of a pilot website. The healthcare community will be able to take a first look at the system at the IHEEM Healthcare Estates Conference, 27-28 October 2009. The UK health organisations are encouraging people to come and try out the website on stand C55.

Health Minister, Mike O’Brien said: “This brings together all the guidance in one easy to access website. ’Space for Health’ goes one step further in providing region-specific information on procurement, management, design and planning of healthcare facilities. I am pleased to launch this website on behalf of all the UK health organisations.”

The website will be available after the conference at: http://www.spaceforhealth.nhs.uk . ‘Space for Health’ will replace the current system, the Knowledge and Information Portal.