Following a tender process in 2019, Service Works Global (SWG) partnered with Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to provide QFM CAFM (computer-aided facilities management) and QFM Space management software for use across the Trust’s estate. SWG was chosen due to the QFM software’s ease of use, functional capabilities that align with the requirements of NHS Trusts and its ability to handle the numerous FM tasks required across the estate.
Read the case study here about our partnership and the results Kettering NHS achieved through QFM.
BIM and Digitisation
The Trust has begun the process of digitising its estate by laser scanning several smaller buildings to make use of the integrated BIM (building information modelling) capabilities within QFM, enabling it to manage its building data and drive efficiencies across the real-estate portfolio more accurately. The creation of a digital twin positions NHS Kettering as a technology leader within NHS England. Not only does that mean the clinical staff function more efficiently, treat more patients, and provide a greater level of service overall but it can also be used as an example of best practice for other NHS estate teams on the use of BIM.
Compliance Assurance
Over the last decade, compliance standards for NHS estates have become increasingly stringent. The use of QFM has made keeping up to date with changes considerably smoother for Kettering. The software is kept updated in line with relevant governmental guidance and compliance strategies for asset data, which matches the requirements of PAM and can be integrated with the relevant PPM schedules. This ensures that Kettering can produce accurate and correct reporting to the NHS England body when necessary.
PPM and Reactive Maintenance Schedules
QFM has enabled the Kettering Estates team to align more closely with SFG20 recommendations, making maintenance far more efficient by allowing the estates team to schedule and allocate resources dynamically rather than have engineers spend extra time traveling around the site.
By analysing the data, Kettering has reduced reactive works by 25%, and increased PPMs by over 40%. The Trust is becoming more proactive, thus reducing time of non-availability and service interruptions. It wasn’t uncommon to force cancellations of clinics or theatre due to estate service failures. The Trust have had no un-planned / un-manageable interruptions for over 12 months.
Reporting
Gathering building information from the official NHS England figures and internal reporting procedures can take a long time, which can create backlogs across the hospital. With QFM, Kettering NHS can access real-time data about a building. This can include clinical and non-clinical data, space utilisation data, and room availability.
Using QFM Space data has enabled the Trust to make quicker decisions on space utilisation. Whereas previously the team would have had to visit an area, it now can perform a desktop feasibility and determine the suitability of areas to accommodate clinical services. This has been extremely useful recently with the challenges of relocation due to the nationally recognised issue with buildings containing RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete).
For more information about how SWG can assist with your NHS estate, contact us for a demo or read the full Kettering NHS case study.