How Hywel Dda University Health Board Is Setting the Standard for NHS Estates Transformation
When Stuart Douglas, Director at NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, spoke at the iHEEM Wales Regional Conference, he made the strategic direction clear:
“For our Health Boards to have any assurance of adhering to modern standards of estates and facilities management, we need to adopt modern CAFM systems across the board.”
That’s exactly what Hywel Dda University Health Board has achieved.
Turning strategy into practice
In collaboration with Idox, Hywel Dda replaced legacy spreadsheets and paper-based tracking with a robust, digital Computer-Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) solution, Idox’s CAFM Explorer®. The implementation was driven by a need to improve visibility, standardise processes, and ensure compliance across a complex estate.
The results:
- Streamlined maintenance workflows
- Increased compliance confidence through automated audit trails
- Faster response times for reactive maintenance
- Real-time asset tracking
For our Health Boards to have any assurance of adhering to modern standards of estates and facilities management, we need to adopt modern CAFM systems across the board.
Stuart Douglas
Director at NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Driving digital transformation for estates and facilities teams to deliver better outcomes
CAFM Explorer® empowers local teams with the tools to operate more efficiently. Tasks can now be prioritised based on data insights, while reporting and communication across departments has improved significantly.
This project demonstrates what digital transformation looks like at the frontline of NHS estates. By aligning with NHS Wales’ vision, Hywel Dda has created a replicable model for other Health Boards looking to achieve similar outcomes.
What’s next?
As more NHS organisations explore their digital options, Hywel Dda’s journey stands as a real-world example of progress. The CAFM system doesn’t just address today’s challenges; it supports future planning, asset lifecycle management, and sustainability targets.
