NHS Estates Technical Standards & Guidance Programme

The NHS England Technical Standards and Guidance (TSG) Programme is responsible for publication of Health Building Notes (HBNs) and Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs). These have been provided to the NHS since the 1960s, but in 2017 responsibility was discharged from DHSC to NHS Improvement (now NHS England), within the national NHS Estates and Facilities division.

Producing TSG requires a specialist skill set, including architects, health planners, engineers, technical author and editorial skills. Since 2018 external specialist consultancy support has been procured to provide the necessary resource and expertise so NHS England can progress updates.

The current contract for technical authoring is coming to an end and so NHS England are looking to award a new 4-year contract for the specialist skills required so the TSG Programme can continue.