Who we help
OPM management for hospitals and healthcare estates
Healthcare grounds concentrate exposure: patients, visitors, clinical staff and contractors all use the same paths, entrances and seating areas, and some of those people are far more vulnerable to a respiratory or skin irritant.
Site pressures
What makes this setting different
Vulnerable users
Patients with respiratory conditions or compromised skin integrity justify earlier and more cautious exclusion than a general public site would.
Continuous access routes
Entrances, ambulance routes, smoking shelters and staff break areas cannot simply be closed, so exclusion has to be designed around them.
Multi-contractor grounds
Grounds maintenance is often outsourced across several contracts; briefing must reach everyone who works under the canopy.
Estates governance
Findings need to run through the estates helpdesk and risk register so there is a documented, auditable trail.
Our approach
How OPM management works for hospitals & healthcare estates
Scaled to the number of oaks on site and the way people actually use the ground beneath them.
- 01Survey prioritised by pedestrian routes, entrances and patient-accessible outdoor space
- 02Early, generous exclusion around trees over seating and waiting areas
- 03Contractor briefing packs and works-hold notices for affected trees
- 04Monitoring aligned to estates reporting cycles and helpdesk records
- 05Nest management planned around clinical activity and access requirements
The framework
The seven-step management framework
The same structure applies across sectors; the emphasis and timing change.
- Step 1
Oak Tree Inventory
Establish what you actually have: every oak, its location, approximate size and the ground use beneath it.
- Step 2
Baseline OPM Survey
A first full inspection across the inventory, recording activity, nests and feeding damage tree by tree.
- Step 3
Risk Classification
Rank trees by exposure and observed activity so attention concentrates where people and trees meet.
- Step 4
Seasonal Monitoring
Repeat inspection at the life-cycle stages that matter, with findings recorded against the same tree records.
- Step 5
Intervention Where Required
Act where exposure justifies it — exclusion, nest management or professional removal — not everywhere by default.
- Step 6
Documentation
Keep a defensible record of what was inspected, what was found, what was decided and who was informed.
- Step 7
Annual Review
Review the season, adjust priority trees and inspection timing, and carry the record forward.
Next steps
Identification and official reporting
Not sure what you've found?
Ask an OPM Expert
Send clear photographs of the tree, the caterpillars or the suspected nest and our team will give you an initial visual opinion to help you understand your next steps.
Photo identification is preliminary and may not always be conclusive. A professional site inspection or official confirmation may be required.
Think it may be OPM?
Report Suspected OPM
Suspected Oak Processionary Moth sightings should be reported through TreeAlert, the official tree pest and disease reporting service. This is an external official service and opens in a new tab.
Sending us photographs does not replace official TreeAlert reporting.
Hospitals & Healthcare Estates: common questions
Supported by
OPM Advice & Management UK is supported by Hertfordshire Pest Control, who provide the professional inspection, monitoring and nest management capability behind the advice on this site.
OPM Advice & Management UK is an independent information resource and is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by Defra, the Forestry Commission, Forest Research or any local authority. Official organisations and resources are referenced to help visitors access authoritative information. Suspected OPM sightings should be reported through the appropriate official reporting channels.