The HSE is the largest property owner in the State, so staying on top of all our facilities is key to the smooth functioning of our entire health system. HSE Capital and Estates manage the healthcare estate and is committed to creating a high quality physical environment that will enhance wellness for patients, service users and staff wellbeing.
With a property portfolio comprising nearly 4,440 buildings across 2,626 sites which includes acute hospitals, primary care centres, mental health and disability premises, community nursing homes, civil registry offices, office accommodation, laboratories and warehouses, HSE Capital and Estates are central to ensuring that appropriate infrastructure is in place when and where required. The disparate nature of these buildings, in terms of size, age profile, condition and geographical spread, combined with finite funding to maintain and modernise them, is the single biggest challenge for the Estates function. Notwithstanding this, the HSE Capital and Estates Mission Statement has continually been:
“To manage the healthcare estate in order to create and sustain a physical environment that enhances wellness in patients and clients and which enables and empowers staff”
The programme of work for HSE Capital and Estates is both dynamic and multifaceted. It ranges from Capital Projects, Maintenance and Technical Support, Equipping, Health Safety and Infrastructural Risk, Fire Safety and Sustainability. A new National Estates Information System (NEIS) is currently being introduced enabling better data, better decisions and better outcomes which is aligned with the Sláintecare vision.
Estate Management within the Health Service Executive is quite a broad term for a number of areas that include:
- Management, allocation and implementation of approx. €1bn Capital Budget per annum
- Project management of construction works to a value of approx. €1bn per annum;
- Provision of strategic advice on capital and property development issues to support service development
- Provision of expert advice in relation to briefing, design, planning and delivery of buildings
- Procurement and project management for the installation of ‘high-end’ equipment such as MRI Machines, CT Scanners, Cath Labs, Theatres, etc.
- The identification, assessment, management and delivery of infrastructural risk projects
- Fire Safety Service, including fire alarm and emergency lighting specification, procurement and management; risk assessment and fire safety training
- Environmental Services (water, waste and energy): Development and implementation of national strategies
- Property Services: insurance; property database; surveys; registration; lease negotiation and property acquisition and disposal
- Technical Support: procurement; legislative and healthcare standards
Our Main Strategic Objectives:
- To provide appropriate facilities that serve and accommodate patients and staff in a relaxed, nurturing and caring environment and support the delivery of clinical services
- To create sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and welcoming facilities
- To support the implementation of the Divisional Service Plan through the strategic and thoughtful use of our buildings and estate
- To improve our existing physical infrastructure and building stock to meet current standards and legislation and ensure ‘fit for use’
- To maximize the use of our buildings and land bank to optimise its value and to reduce costs
Management and Delivery of the Capital Programme:
The Capital Projects team provide expert advice to our customer in relation to the governance, design, planning, procurement, construction, equipping, commissioning and maintenance of healthcare facilities. Our team can ensure that the capital programme is managed and procured in line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s “Public Spending Code “. In addition, the team:
- Assist in developing strategies for alternative methods of funding e.g. Public Private Partnership and help address existing infrastructural deficits with regard to clinical, HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) and building standards
- Ensure that the annual Capital Programme addresses service needs and deficiencies and fully supports the National Service Plan
- Ensure that the annual capital allocation is drawn down in a timely and efficient manner
- Ensure that the HSE’s capital programme is managed and procured in line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s “Public Spending Code” which sets out guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure proposals in the Public Sector, the Government’s Capital Works Management Framework, EU Regulations and the HSE’s National Financial Regulations
- Ensure the capital investment in acute hospital services facilitates the reconfiguration of services and supports on major service developments
- Ensure that hospitals are developed in line with robust Development Control Plans
- Put programmes in place to address existing infrastructural deficits with regard to clinical, HIQA and building standards
- Ensure completion of the projects included in the 5 year capital programme
Equipment Replacement Programme:
The HSE commissioned review and subsequent report entitled ‘Equipment Replacement Programme’, (2016), concluded that a sustainable level of investment was required annually to replace older and less reliable equipment and address the existing deficit. From a risk and patient safety perspective, a level of funding allocation of €65m per annum is considered critical. A substantial portion of this investment will fund the replacement of existing diagnostic equipment.
Property Management:
The HSE healthcare estate nationally comprises of 4,440 buildings across 2,626 sites. HSE Capital and Estates’ role is to maximize the use and value of the health physical infrastructure from a combination of existing assets, government funding and private investment. The objectives of the HSE Capital and Estates Property Services are:
- The provision of appropriate health infrastructure, where required, that complies with modern, clinical, infection control, accessibility and safety standards
- Cost efficient management of the HSE’s Estate
- Development and management of a programme of sale of surplus assets to fund the capital development programmes.
- The management and approval of all property transactions in line with the Property Protocol
- To protect the HSE’s estate from unauthorized use or occupancy
Quality Safety and Infrastructural Risk:
HSE Capital and Estates works to ensure the Health estate is compliant with best practice, design standards and regulatory guidelines (including Accessibility, Health and Safety, Fire Safety, HIQA, Infection Control, Local Authority and Planning requirements). We can provide appropriate training in relation to these matters.
Fire Safety:
HSE Capital and Estates provide specialist technical support and advice on the application of the provision of fire safety legislation and associated regulations, fire safety management and other appropriate guidance on fire safety in premises owned, occupied or managed by the HSE. This is achieved by delivering a comprehensive Fire Safety Risk Assessment Process across all regions which forms the basis for a proactive program of fire safety works being developed for each region.
This includes;
- Contract Renewal for all Fire Alarm and Emergency Contracts
- Set Up Framework for Fire Alarm and Emergency Lighting Design and Commission
- Develop Fire Alarm Criteria and Specification
- Provide Fire Safety and Risk Assessor Course for All Fire Officers
- Establish Framework Maintenance Contract for Hand Held Fire Extinguishers
- Establish Educational Course for Estates Personnel on new IS3218 and IS3217 Standard
- Fire Safety Risk Assessments for Acute Hospital
- Upgrading of Emergency Lighting, Fire Alarm and Passive Fire Safety for Risk Assessments – capital funding
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability:
The Health Service’s Sustainable Healthcare Building Guidelines are a comprehensive statement of the Health Service’s recognition of the need for sustainability. Estate Managers are responsible for the intended performance and operation of healthcare buildings, their actual performance, and ensuring continuous improvement through investigation, communication, training, maintenance and review of procedures in line with best practice and national and EU directives and guidelines.
To give this corporate direction a central base, the “National Health Sustainability Office” was set up in 2012 to strategically manage energy consumption within the Health Service and the public health sector generally. This shall include the effective management, procurement and payment of all forms of energy from all available sources. The NHSO shall procure, monitor and manage all energy contracts nationally and assist and support health institutions in their pursuit of effective and efficient energy usage.
Read more about National Health Sustainability Office
National Estates Information System (NEIS):
The National Estates Information System (NEIS) will implement digital change transforming HSE Capital and Estates business. This will enable Better Data, Better Decisions and Better Outcomes: Supporting the Slaintecare Vision.
Read more about National Estates Information System (NEIS)
Join the HSE Capital and Estates team:
The HSE offers a wide range of challenging career opportunities that enable us to make an important contribution to our health system, to the entire public service and to the lives of everyone living in Ireland.
Use our job search to look for HSE Capital and Estates jobs in the Health Service.
