Three ways smart buildings can help you provide better healthcare

The NHS is vital to healthcare provision in the UK, aiming to deliver free or low-cost care to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. But it is underfunded. To help reduce the financial burden, healthcare environments need to be better, smarter and more efficient. 

“Years of under-investment in the health service has left staff overstretched, exhausted and struggling to provide the care patients have a right to expect.”

Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation

Smart buildings are the solution. With integrated AI and Machine Learning (ML), smart building technologies can help healthcare providers overcome their primary challenges, including security, productivity and improving healthcare provision.

1. Cost savings

With budgets already stretched thin, investing in smart building technology might initially seem unwise. However, such an investment can reduce overall costs in the long run.  

Smart buildings use sensors to identify where and when energy is needed, ensuring you never pay for more than you use. A unified IT network infrastructure, powered by AI and ML, will enable you to programme multiple systems in your buildings to meet your needs, improving cost-effectiveness, increasing your building efficiency and facilitating a better working environment.

With the insights generated by smart technology, you’ll be able to make more strategic decisions. For example, planning staff resourcing to handle busy times more effectively and reducing unnecessary overstaffing during quieter times. 
Each refinement leads to improved energy savings and reduces operating costs.

2. Safety and security 

NHS Trusts face a technology challenge, losing 13.5 million hours each year to outdated systems. These systems can create vulnerabilities that cybercriminals exploit and, unfortunately, cyber attacks on healthcare organisations are increasing. For example, a recent ransomware attack led to 10,000 cancelled appointments across NHS Trusts. 

Smart building technology bolsters your defences with real-time monitoring and access control systems to quickly identify and remove bad actors. 

Physical safety is also critical. Integrated systems such as panic alarms, intercoms, and mass notification tools enable you to promptly detect and respond to threats. As well as protecting staff, patients, and visitors, these technologies help you minimise damage to your buildings, ultimately saving on maintenance costs, reducing downtime and preventing disruptions to patient care.

3. Clinical productivity

Currently, just 24% of the public is satisfied with the NHS, and 71% cite the time it takes to get an appointment as the key factor in their dissatisfaction. To address this, the Elective Reform Plan sets a target for 65% of patients to be treated within 18 weeks by the end of 2026. 

Connected systems, can help to meet this goal. IoT devices embedded with sensors collect and exchange data, identifying tasks that can be automated or streamlined and monitoring resources to better manage work-space utilisation. This frees up time for staff to focus on higher priority, more complex tasks and helps maximise available resources.

Implementing these technologies enhances clinical productivity and increases your capacity to handle sudden, unexpected event, such as adverse weather or a local outbreak, without impacting the level of care provided.

Prepare for the future

Smart building technology will enhance your ability to deliver efficient, safe and cost-effective healthcare. NHS Trusts that make the fastest improvements in reducing waiting times will also be eligible for additional government funding for projects tailored to local needs.

An investment in smart building technology brings far-reaching benefits, strengthening your healthcare provision, improving staff satisfaction and building resilience for the future.  

To find out more about our Smart Buildings solutions, call us on 0333 234 0011 or email us at enquiries@wavenet.co.uk