Why Healthcare Estates Can’t Afford Inaccurate Asset Registers

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29 October 2026 | Updated 28 October 2026

Ian Giles, Senior Consultant and Chartered Engineer at SFG20, the industry standard for healthcare building maintenance, explains why accurate asset data is critical for healthcare estates.

Healthcare estates are under growing pressure to reduce costs, improve efficiency and maintain safe, compliant environments. Yet many are still making important maintenance decisions based on incomplete or outdated asset information.

SFG20’s State of Facilities Management 2026 Report¹ found that just 15% of facilities management professionals report 100% up-to-date asset registers, despite asset management and maintenance being a top investment priority over the next three years. With 38% of organisations either not updating their registers or unsure how often they are reviewed, maintaining accurate asset data remains a challenge.

Without reliable asset data, estates teams can struggle to prioritise essential maintenance, demonstrate compliance and manage risk effectively. Having confidence in asset information allows teams to plan maintenance more efficiently, make better investment decisions and reduce the risk of critical assets being overlooked.

Why is Accurate Asset Data so Important for Healthcare Estates?

“Asset management and maintenance are now a key investment priority for facilities management professionals, with 72% identifying it as an area of focus over the next three years. However, these investments can only deliver value when they are supported by accurate, up-to-date asset information.

“For healthcare estates, where thousands of assets, from ventilation to emergency lighting, help keep buildings safe and operational, having confidence in asset data is essential. Knowing which assets exist, where they are located, and what maintenance they require allows teams to make better decisions, improve planning and reduce risk and reactive maintenance. 

“Similarly, having a strong grasp of installation dates and mapping all assets to their economic life expectancies will allow teams to be able to project when the assets will require replacement and, in turn, produce a cost breakdown. This will help reduce the surprise of capital replacement.” 

Why do Asset Registers Become Inaccurate Over Time? 

“Asset registers naturally become outdated as estates evolve. Equipment is replaced, upgraded or relocated, and without clear processes to capture these changes, information can quickly become unreliable. 

“The value of an asset register isn't just in the amount of information it contains, but in the quality and reliability of that information. Comprehensive, accurate and consistently maintained records give estates teams the confidence to make better maintenance decisions. For organisations looking to improve their asset data, the priority should be ensuring information is complete, removing inconsistencies and keeping records up to date.”

How Can Healthcare Organisations Improve Their Asset Data? 

“Technology can also support this approach. While spreadsheets can be useful for smaller estates, complex healthcare environments need a more structured way of managing information. Our report found organisations using dedicated software solutions reported around 70% asset register accuracy, compared with around 60% among those relying on spreadsheets or manual processes.

“Ultimately, reliable asset data gives healthcare estates teams the confidence to move towards proactive maintenance, improve efficiency and support safer, more compliant environments.”

"To find out more about how technology can help healthcare buildings remain safe, compliant and less costly, hear me speak at the SFG20 Virtual Summit 2026² on Tuesday 10th November. I will be joining a panel of industry experts from across FM, the built sector and healthcare to discuss the risks organisations face without robust asset data.”

1. SFG20’s State of Facilities Management 2026 Report – see here.
2. SFG20 Virtual Summit 2026 – see here.

Picture: An image of a person typing on a laptop on a wooden desk, with a stethoscope lying in the foreground.

Article written by Dave Mapps | Published 29 October 2026

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