The NHS 10-Year Plan represents a critical opportunity to address some of the most pressing issues in healthcare today. This roadmap aims to improve patient experiences, streamline service delivery, and ensure the long-term resilience of the healthcare system.

As part of the NHS Change initiative, Darwin Group, the specialist healthcare business of Portakabin, has submitted our ambitious vision to help reimagine NHS estates for the future.

We believe adaptable infrastructure is essential for unlocking the NHS’s potential. Outdated, rigid estates restrict the ability to meet growing patient needs and adapt to advancements in healthcare. Our response calls for:

• Flexible and adaptable estates: Facilities that evolve with changing demands, providing scalable, patient-centred care.
• System-wide planning: Integration across all aspects of healthcare delivery to ensure a coordinated and holistic foundation.
• Sustainable investment: High-quality spaces that align with the duration of need, supporting long-term cost-efficiency.
• Operational agility: Rapid deployment of modular facilities to address urgent needs, such as elective backlogs, emergency care surges, or public health crises.

However, critical barriers to realising this vision remain. The annual approach to capital expenditure including the Capital Department Expenditure Limit (CDEL), prevents long-term thinking and planning, meaning NHS Trusts are constricted in what development opportunities are available to them. Adopting a more flexible investment framework would enable the NHS to fully leverage dynamic solutions such as On-Demand Healthcare Facilities.

We are proud to have worked with organisations who have already demonstrated their transformative potential in real-world examples, such as:

• Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital: Delivering a modular ambulance receiving centre that added 17 ambulance offload spaces and eased winter pressures.
• Sandwell and Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust: A Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) facility delivered in just 72 days that helps up to 30 patients a day, avoid overnight stays.

By incorporating adaptable infrastructure at the core of its 10-Year Plan, such as On-Demand Healthcare Facilities, the NHS can enhance agility and productivity to tackle pressing challenges such as elective backlogs and prepare for evolving healthcare needs.

What does your Trust envision for the NHS 10-Year Plan? Share your thoughts at collaborate@darwingroup.co.uk and join the conversation as we work towards a more resilient, patient-centred NHS for the future.