Norland to support Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

24 January 2013

Norland, a facilities management company, announced it has been appointed by Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust to maintain its buildings, grounds, critical engineering systems and specialist equipment

Norland will also undertake the related infection control and health and safety activities as well as estate energy management and extra works.

The contract covers the Trusts accident and emergency units, specialist departments, acute, paediatric and maternity wards and support services.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest general hospital Foundation Trusts in the country. It provides acute medical and surgical services to Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham and West Berkshire and specialist services to a wider population across Berkshire and its borders. The estate includes 607 acute, 44 paediatric and 57 maternity post natal beds, operating theatres, specialist departments such as pathology, radiology and mental health, retail areas and a childrens centre.

Norlands 24/7 service includes the care of critical areas like the operating theatres which must remain operational between 7am to 7pm and the renal unit which is open until midnight. Specialist healthcare systems and equipment fall within the contract such as sterilising and decontamination units, theatre validation, hydrotherapy pools, nurse call systems and panic alarms, compressed air, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), standby generators, patient hoists, catering equipment and emergency lighting.

Philip Holmes, Director of Estates and Facilities Management, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said: The delivery of frontline healthcare services has never been more challenging than currently. We are pleased to be working with Norland to drive ongoing compliance across our various sites, as well as ensuring value for money."

The contract is a managed service covering grounds and gardens maintenance in addition to engineering services, infection control, fire risk assessments, statutory inspections, health & safety management, pest control, water hygiene, re-decoration, extra works and energy and environmental efficiency planning. All services adhere to best practice industry standards for healthcare environments including the Health Technical Memorandum (HTMs), Healthcare Building Notices (HBNs) and Health Building Notes as set out by the Department of Health.

A set of comprehensive performance criteria reflect the critical environment in which Norland is working. Norlands computer-aided facilities management system works in conjunction with the Trusts helpdesk to run an asset register and control the estate management service. Together they work as a strategic and quality management tools to ensure round the clock operations and high priority reactive response.

Managing the Trusts Energy Building Management System (EBMS) in line with energy efficiency targets is key to the contract as is ensuring all staff take part in continuous professional development.