NHS Direct is to more than double the space it occupies to over 600,000 sq ft, as the government implements an ambitious growth strategy for the health information service.
The push follows the granting of “special health authority” status to NHS Direct from 1 April, meaning that it has become responsible for the cost and ownership of the property it occupies.
This comprises more than 50 offices, which are typically held on loose occupancy agreements with hospital and ambulance trusts.
NHS Direct employs 3,000 nurses and administrative staff but will double that to almost triple its capacity from 6m calls pa in 2003 to 16m by 2006. Each employee in a call centre requires an estimated 100 sq ft of space.
Sources said the organisation wanted to consolidate into a few large properties and dispose of dozens of smaller buildings.
Chesterton’s strategic services team is to advise NHS Direct.
According to a 2003 strategy document, government funding for the nurse-led telephone advice service will almost double in the next three years. Funding is to increase from £105m in 2003/4 to £181.5m in 2005/6.
Since its launch in 1998, the service has been centrally managed by the Department of Health. A spokesperson for NHS Direct said: “The change in status of NHS Direct to a special health authority has required NHS Direct to manage its own estate, which was previously managed by its host trusts.
“NHS Direct has ambitious expansion plans, and needs an estate strategy to support the new organisation.
“Chesterton has been hired on a short-term contract to help us to do that. It would be premature to discuss what might come of that strategy.”
