Outsourcing of facilities management (FM) services in public hospitals

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extend the body of knowledge on health care facilities management (FM) by investigating the extent to which public hospitals in Nigeria have fared in terms of outsourced FM services. Design/methodology/approach – The paper relied on two strands of methodology common with pragmatic research. Questionnaire survey (QS) used data from 74 respondents representing 74 hospitals, while 3 of the 74 hospitals involved in the QS were selected based on their willingness to enter the case study interview. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (QS) and using narrative techniques by discussing themes, sub-themes and interconnecting themes through a chronology of events, as in grounded theory. Findings – Findings revealed that most public hospitals do not have a policy framework for outsourcing in general and FM services in particular, giving room for duplication of functions and non-establishment of functional FM units to handle FM activities, while six FM services are outsourced in all the hospitals. Cleaning, security and catering services received the highest satisfaction ratings, while plant maintenance services, however, received the least satisfaction rating. Originality/value – The paper provides the first ever survey based on empirical evidence about the state of FM services outsourced in Nigeria’s public hospitals. The survey suggests a relatively low level of usage of outsourcing for its services, as only a handful of FM services are outsourced in most of the hospitals.