NHS Trusts and healthcare facilities managers face a unique challenge: keeping patient lifts safe, compliant, and operational—without disrupting care.
With more than 2,000 hospital buildings across England were built before the foundation of the NHS in 1948* it’s not surprising that lifts throughout the NHS can problematic!
With ageing lift assets across the NHS in Trusts, NHS primary care and all healthcare settings, along with increasing scrutiny under LOLER, PUWER, and HTM guidance/ BS EN standards, lift compliance is not just a maintenance issue—it’s a patient safety and governance priority and requires professional independent technical oversight.
Where risks often arise and common compliance pressure points
- Ageing lift equipment with declining reliability
- Incomplete or poorly specified LOLER examinations, and often lacking follow-through
- Ambiguity between maintenance contractors and duty-holder responsibilities
- Obsolescence risks impacting safety and availability
- Capital modernisation projects progressing without independent engineering assurance or oversight
- Limited audit trails to demonstrate compliance to boards, auditors, and regulators
How LECS UK supports healthcare estates teams
As an independent lift and escalator engineering consultancy, LECS UK works solely for the client—not contractors—providing clear, impartial advice you can rely on.
We help healthcare organisations with:
- Independent LOLER examinations & audits
- Condition surveys and compliance gap analysis
- Modernisation and replacement strategies
- Specifications and tendering processes
- Independent project management & technical assurance
- Expert witness and duty-holder support
Our focus is simple: safe, compliant, and future-proof lift assets that support patient care.
