What we do.
Scottish Healthcare Built Environment Network
Built on the strong collaborative relationships developed through NHS Scotland Assure Research Service, SHBEN was established by NHS Scotland Assure with academic partners to support high‑quality research, knowledge exchange, and innovation that influences guidance, policy, and practice.
Marcel Ziebold
Edinburgh Napier University – the #1 modern university in Scotland and the leading university in Edinburgh for student satisfaction
Collaboration
Edinburgh Napier University is a founding academic partner of SHBEN, bringing established research expertise in healthcare built environment, infection prevention and control, and evidence-based design. The partnership enables SHBEN to deliver rigorous interdisciplinary research, provide postgraduate training opportunities, and translate academic insights into practical guidance that shapes healthcare policy and practice across Scotland.
Marcel Ziebold
NHS Scotland Assure – part of National Services Scotland, delivering coordinated risk management and quality improvement across NHS Scotland’s healthcare environments
Collaboration
NHS Scotland Assure has been designed with users to deliver a coordinated approach to the improvement of risk management and quality in the healthcare environment across NHS Scotland. We underpin a transformation in the approach to promoting excellence, protecting patients from the risk of infection, and supporting better outcomes for the population. NHS Scotland Assure provides clinical and technical expertise to minimise risk and improve quality, practice and sustainability in the healthcare environment. This is achieved through the development of national policy, sharing of good practice, development of technology and innovation as well as delivering effective advice and support.
NHSScotland Assure Services include:
- Engineering & Assurance
- Research, Innovation & Intelligence
- Workforce Development
- Facilities
- Property, Sustainability & Capital Planning
- ARHAI Scotland
Convene an interdisciplinary community across research, practice, and policy.
Translate evidence into practical guidance and standards.
Commission and deliver rapid‑response research to emerging challenges.
Create spaces to test and evaluate interventions beyond traditional research models.
Develop skills through CPD, postgraduate and doctoral training.
Vision and objectives
A recognised, collaborative, and interdisciplinary network for healthcare built environment research — informing evidence based guidance, driving innovation and contributing to safe, effective, and person centred healthcare settings across Scotland.
Develop a national and international network focused on improving the healthcare built environment.
Influence healthcare guidance, policy, and design across Scotland through evidence-based research and innovation.
Facilitate interdisciplinary partnerships that deliver high-impact outcomes aligned with the Network’s objectives.
Enable rapid-response contract research to address evolving needs in healthcare environments.
Foster environments for sharing, testing, and evaluating practical interventions beyond traditional research models.
Build capacity by supporting and sustaining leading professionals in healthcare built environment research and practice.
Support CPD, postgraduate, and doctoral development to strengthen sector expertise.
Promote active knowledge exchange through timely dissemination of research and community updates.
Enhance the national and international profile of healthcare built environment research and practice.
Our monthly look at the key issues shaping Scotland’s healthcare built environment.