HCRG Care Group (HCRG) is one of the UK’s largest independent providers of commissioned community health and care services. With over 8,000 staff, HCRG services span 0–19 healthcare, adult care, sexual health and more. The organisation plays a vital role in local communities, directly helping more than half a million people each year.
To support service delivery, HCRG needs a large number of high-quality, affordable spaces across the country. Managing these bookings centrally, while allowing services the flexibility to operate efficiently, presents a significant logistical challenge – one that NHS Open Space (Open Space) is helping to solve.
The challenge
Managing room bookings across multiple clinical and non-clinical services in different parts of the country creates natural complexity – particularly when each service has unique operational needs and budget responsibilities.
Before adopting Open Space, securing suitable rooms was often a fragmented process. Each space had to be sourced and managed individually, with different booking terms and administrative processes.
The solution
HCRG now uses Open Space as its first port of call when looking for clinical and non-clinical rooms – whether for one-off appointments or recurring service delivery. The team particularly values the platform’s intuitive interface, easy navigation, and postcode-based search functionality.
Financially, the platform also provides clear oversight and control. Automated credit notes and consolidated payments ensure accuracy and reduce manual effort.
Open Space has also helped HCRG reduce the significant administrative workload that comes with managing dozens of separate locations and contracts. The time and cost savings are tangible.
The ability to manage users and permissions on the platform also makes it easy to scale usage across different services and teams.
Alongside the technology, HCRG benefits from consistent support and a dedicated Open Space account manager – helping them maximise platform use and plan ahead as they expand.
The results
Adopting Open Space has helped HCRG streamline booking processes, reduce administrative burden, and simplify payments for both one-off and ongoing space bookings. Currently operating from 11 Open Space properties to deliver 18 service types, the benefits include:
- Centralised oversight: One booking system and one payment method across multiple services and regions.
- Increased efficiency: Easier access to space means less time spent chasing sites or processing payments.
- Greater flexibility: Services can expand into new areas or respond to demand quickly and without long-term leasing or complex contracts.
- Improved user experience: Clean, clinical rooms in familiar NHS sites.
As HCRG continues to deliver multiple services within communities across the country, Open Space remains a critical tool in their estate strategy — helping them deliver care where it’s needed, while keeping control of costs.
For more information about NHS Open Space, click here.
