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Why NHS Estates Teams Need Bespoke Permit to Work Systems

Written by Andrew Baxter | Nov 5, 2025 11:56:36 AM

If you're managing NHS property, plant, or clinical environments, your paperwork isn't just admin, it’s your audit defence.


Across NHS Trusts, staff are under pressure to prove compliance with complex regulations like PSSR (which demands a Written Scheme of Examination), HTM 01-05, and DAVS. But generic permit books and off-the-shelf forms often fall short, leaving dangerous gaps that auditors, Authorising Engineers, or the CQC will spot instantly.

The Problem with Generic Paperwork

Standard forms don’t reflect the unique risks of NHS environments. Whether you're working on pressure systems, dental utilities, or decontamination equipment, your documentation needs to do more than tick boxes. It needs to prove control, isolation, and reinstatement in line with legislation.


What Bespoke Books Do Differently

We design Permit to Work, Isolation, and Standing Instruction books tailored to NHS disciplines. These aren’t templates, they’re tools built around your Trust’s procedures and the legislation you must meet.

Here’s how they help:

  • Pressure Systems (PSSR): Custom PSSR log books include fields for AP sign-off, isolation sequences, and full reinstatement programmes, giving you a clear, auditable chain of custody.
  • HTM 01-05 (Decontamination): Our permits ensure testing and sign-off are completed before equipment returns to clinical use, closing infection control gaps.
  • Dental Air and Vacuum Systems (DAVS): Control of Workbooks include checks for air quality and system integrity, aligned with HTM 2022 Supplement 1.


What our NHS Clients Are Looking For

Across the UK, NHS Estates and Facilities teams are turning to tailored documentation to strengthen compliance and reduce audit risk.

While every Trust has its own operational challenges, many are seeking support with permit-to-work systems and control documentation for areas like dental utilities, decontamination, and pressure systems.

Some teams need help with isolation procedures, risk assessments, or reinstatement programmes. Others are focused on improving record-keeping or ensuring signage meets safety standards for substances like liquid nitrogen. The common thread is a desire for documentation that reflects real-world procedures and aligns with the specific legislation they’re accountable to.

Whether your Trust is looking to overhaul its entire control of work system or simply improve a few key areas, bespoke solutions can help you build confidence in your audit trail and ensure your paperwork works as hard as your team does.


Why It Matters

Your documentation is your frontline defence in an audit. If your forms don’t reflect the legal and procedural detail required by PSSR or HTMs, your Trust is exposed.

Let’s make sure your paperwork works as hard as your team does.

We are already helping multiple NHS Trusts embed mandatory compliance controls into their daily work, significantly reducing their audit risk across high-risk plant and equipment. If you need documentation built around your Trust's compliance policy—not just a generic template—let's discuss your specific needs. Contact us today to schedule a quick consultation.