Behind the scenes of the NHS are the teams who keep care running every day
At Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust care doesn't just happen in our wards, clinics and community spaces - it's built, maintained and supported by teams working tirelessly behind the scenes.
This National Estates and Facilities Day, Wednesday 17 June, we're shining a light on the people and professions that quite literally keep our services running.
Across more than 80 sites, covering Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire, our estates and facilities teams collectively manage a complex and diverse estate that supports over 10,500 colleagues and thousands of patients every day. From secure services and inpatient wards to community bases and specialist environments, every space must be safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
And that doesn't happen by chance.
Our facilities teams are the engine room of day-to-day operations. They ensure our environments are clean, safe and welcoming - helping prevent infection, supporting patient dignity and creating spaces where recovery can happen. From catering teams preparing millions of meals, to domestics maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, to porters keeping people and equipment moving - every role plays a vital part in patient care.
Our estates teams work around the clock to maintain the infrastructure that underpins our services. They manage everything from electrical systems and ventilation to water safety and emergency repairs, often responding at pace to ensure there is no disruption to care.
And our capital, property and space, environment, and contracts, governance and compliance teams are shaping the future of the Trust. They design, plan and deliver the spaces we'll rely on tomorrow - leading on major builds, refurbishments, and improvements that enhance patient experience, support modern models
Together, these teams are responsible for:
- Maintaining hundreds of buildings across a large geographical footprint
- Supporting safe care environments 24/7, 365 days a year
- Delivering essential services that impact every patient interaction
- Leading multi-million-pound capital projects to transform our estate
- Driving sustainability and efficiency across our sites
But the real story isn't just in the scale - it's in the people.
Behind every repair is an engineer who stayed late to fix it. Behind every clean space is a domestic who takes pride in their work and who is a patient's everyday constant. Behind every new development is a team carefully designing environments that support recovery and wellbeing.
Dawn Chambers, Strategic Director of Estates and Facilities said, "Our estates and facilities (E&F) teams are fundamental to everything we do as a Trust. Their impact on patient care should not be underestimated. E&F teams ensure our services can operate safely and efficiently today, while continually investing in the environments of tomorrow. From maintaining critical infrastructure to delivering transformative capital projects, their contribution is essential to delivering high-quality care."
David Pipes, Associate Director of Estates and Facilities, added: "E&F colleagues are often the first and last people our patients see each day, and the environments they create have a direct impact on their experience, safety and outcomes. Our colleagues' dedication, professionalism and attention to detail make a difference every single day, often in ways that go unseen and should never go unrecognised."
Mandy Turton, Head of Facilities, said: What makes me most proud is the passion and pride our colleagues bring to work every day. Their contribution may not always be visible, but it is felt in every ward, clinic and community setting across our Trust. Whether they're helping to keep our environments safe, supporting patients and colleagues, or responding to challenges behind the scenes, they make an enormous difference. National Estates and Facilities Day is a chance to celebrate that contribution and thank every member of the team for the role they play in keeping our NHS running.
Estates and facilities are more than support services - they are an integral part of patient care.
They are problem-solvers, planners, innovators and caretakers of our spaces. They respond to emergencies, adapt to changing needs, and continuously look for ways to improve how our environments support the people who use them.
Today, we recognise the extraordinary contribution of these teams across Nottinghamshire Healthcare.
Because without them, there is no NHS as we know it.
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