QE Facilities

26/08/2026

A hat-trick of award nominations for the QE Facilities team! We're thrilled to be shortlisted in three categories at the Healthcare Estates IHEEM Awards in October.

Champion of Champions - Porter Mark D***s
Refurbishment Project of the Year - NGOC, Colposcopy & Children & Young People's Departments
Team of the Year

As our MD Damon Kent has put it: "These nominations belong to the whole team. Whether it's Mark going the extra mile for patients and colleagues every day, or our capital projects team transforming spaces for children and young people, this is what QE Facilities is about - doing work that makes a real difference to people in Gateshead and beyond."

Our Chair at QE Facilities, Maggie Pavlou said: "To be shortlisted in three categories at the IHEEM Awards is a fantastic achievement and a real reflection of the people and culture we have built at QEF. Success like this does not happen in isolation - it comes from the commitment, expertise and teamwork we see across the organisation every day. I am incredibly proud that the work of our colleagues is being recognised nationally and wish everyone involved the very best for the awards."

20/08/2026

From the Pathology Centre to healthcare services across the North East, our transport team are connecting people, samples, and services every day.

They may be behind the scenes, but their work is essential in supporting timely, safe testing and patient care.

Thank you to our Transport colleagues for keeping things moving!

13/08/2026

Congratulations to our Decontamination Team on achieving excellent results in two major audits!

Endoscopy Decontamination have been awarded Green Status, the highest level of assurance following its annual IHEEM review.

SGS surveillance audit completed with zero corrective actions raised.

These results showcase the team's commitment to being Professional, Proud, and Passionate, delivering the highest standards of quality while keeping patient safety at the heart of everything they do.

Thank you to everyone involved for their hard work and dedication.

06/08/2026

We're delighted to share that Gateshead NHS have been shortlisted for The Best Reduction of Clinical Waste Award.

This is a brilliant recognition of the hard work of our Sustainability Team at QEF, who have been working hard to reduce clinical waste through smarter, more efficient ways of working.

We're honoured to be shortlisted alongside Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved. We wish the very best of luck to all of this year's finalists and look forward to celebrating with you at the awards!

05/08/2026

30/07/2026

Another fantastic step towards reducing single-use waste!

This , we’re celebrating another positive change from QEF Procurement and Theatre teams at Gateshead NHS.

Following a successful trial and fantastic engagement from our clinical teams, the Trust has now made the switch from disposable surgical gowns to reusable alternatives.

The move supports both high-quality patient care and the NHS Net Zero agenda by reducing waste, conserving resources and supporting a more circular approach to the products we use.

Compared with disposable alternatives, reusable surgical gowns can generate:

Up to 84% less waste

Up to 69% lower carbon emissions

A huge thank you to everyone involved in the trial and implementation of this change. By embracing reusable alternatives where appropriate, we can reduce our reliance on single-use products and make sustainability part of everyday healthcare.

27/07/2026

We are delighted to share that our Estates teams has moved into a brand new facility, replacing the previous porter cabin with a modern workspace designed to better support the needs of our employees.

The new building brings together colleagues from multiple Estates functions into a single shared workspace, creating greater opportunities for communication, collaboration and knowledge sharing across service areas. With dedicated office space, meeting rooms and collaborative work areas, it provides a more comfortable and functional environment for day-to-day work, team meetings and joint projects.

This investment marks a significant improvement for our Estates teams, who had been based in an ageing part of the estate. The new facility offers a modern, fit for purpose workspace that will support collaboration, productivity and the continued delivery of high quality services across the Trust.

This new facility was project managed by QE Facilities and delivered by Modulek

22/07/2026

A simple change with a big impact.

This , we’re celebrating the work of QEF Procurement and Theatre teams Gateshead NHS, who have collaborated to replace single-use plastic bowls with reusable stainless steel alternatives.

This change means:

Less single-use plastic waste
Fewer emissions associated with manufacturing and deliveries
Less waste requiring clinical or offensive waste disposal
Reduced purchasing and disposal costs
An estimated annual carbon reduction of 924kg CO2e

Because the reusable bowls are cleaned as part of existing theatre processes, the change does not require an increase in energy, water or decontamination resources.

Small changes, strong collaboration and a more sustainable NHS!

17/06/2026

Our management team pitching in with the lunch service today in The Hub for National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day!

We’ve got John on food service, Jason on the counter and Tony as barista. ☕️ 👏🏼

17/06/2026

Today, on National Healthcare Estates & Facilities Day, we are proud to recognise and celebrate all of our incredible Estates & Facilities teams across QEF.

Every team plays a vital role in supporting patients, visitors, and staff every single day. Often working behind the scenes, these teams help keep our hospital safe, clean, operational, connected, supplied, welcoming and running smoothly 24 hours a day. Whether maintaining essential services, supporting patient journeys, preparing meals, managing equipment, coordinating communication, or ensuring safety standards are met, their hard work and dedication are essential to the care we provide.

This year’s theme, “Behind the Scenes Heroes,” recognises the people whose work may not always be visible, but whose impact is felt across every ward, corridor, department, and service throughout the hospital.

Thank you to every member of our Estates & Facilities teams at QEF for your professionalism, compassion, teamwork, and commitment. Your contribution is valued, appreciated, and truly makes a difference every day.