Building for health - 10 building blocks

A well-maintained and well-designed estate is the bedrock on which clinical services are delivered. It is essential they meet current and future service needs, provide a good patient experience, offer a high-quality healing environment, and support the NHS and government’s net zero carbon strategies.

The NHS has summarised the key ways estates and facilities can play their role in reducing health inequalities in our 10 building blocks for building for health.

Building block 7, titled 'Improved Design' references the importance of digital inclusion when developing safe, healthy and inclusive spaces.

While building block 8, titled 'Access to Quality and Affordable Housing', highlights the importance of re-using and developing estate for affordable and inclusive key worker accommodation and into housing to support vulnerable communities. 

The building blocks can be applied to all aspects of estates management, including the concept, detailed design and construction and operation stages.