Strategic healthcare facilities management : a longitudinal case study in a private hospital group in the UK

Weicht, KK

Abstract

Dramatic change takes place within the technological, social, political,
regulatory, competitive, and economic context of health care delivery. For this
reason, strategic management is gaining an important role. Healthcare
managers have to understand their changing environment, develop a clear longterm
strategy, and make decisions today that will influence their organisations
for many years.
Nuffield Hospitals have recognised the importance of the patient environment.
Their customer focused approach of healthcare delivery is reflected through a
Directorate of Planning and Facilities, where the patient environment is
planned and lead in a strategic way. The single, longitudinal case study
describes one of the first companies who worked with this approach in a period
of immense growth and finds out that the patient environment is part of
healthcare and therefore needs to be part of the business plan.
In healthcare, strategic attention needs to be given towards non-medical, but
not non-essential tasks. Effective management of facilities customer focused
and tailor made, seen as a process, with strategic planning and leadership
contributes to the well-being of the patient. Here the public sector can learn
from success and failure related to facilities management, previously
experienced in the private sector.

• Thesis Type: Dissertation
• Deposit Date: Jun 29, 2021
• Award Date: Jun 1, 2004