Implementing Technological Innovations to Improve Estates Operations in Healthcare

Emerging technologies continue to transform the construction sector. AI, robotics, 3D printing and drones are all examples of technology driving the future of construction.Technology also plays a vital part in improved estates operations once a project is completed.

Healthcare buildings present particularly complex challenges for construction and estate professionals due to rapidly changing equipment requirements and healthcare practices. Technology is key to agility, enhancing efficiencies, reducing costs and improving patient care.

Overcoming healthcare construction challenges to improve estates operations

Technological advances are driving efficiencies that overcome healthcare construction challenges, and allow estate managers, facility operators and directors, compliance professionals and NHS Trust executives to manage their estates more efficiently.

An ageing infrastructure

According to research by Manchester University, NHS infrastructure is in crisis: “ Many old buildings are still in use and in a poor state of repair due to structural failure and lack of routine maintenance.”

Technological innovations such as thermal imaging, 360 degree surveys and drones provide detailed information on the condition of existing healthcare buildings which may otherwise go undetected. Issues such as heat loss, trapped moisture and leaks can be identified before they escalate.

These technologies provide estate management teams with detailed and targeted surveys of their buildings to identify where investment is needed. They also produce desktop visuals and detailed evidence to support applications for investment or funding.

For facilities managers, access to real-time data on the status of the building, and the expected lifecycle of plant and systems, facilitates more efficient operations management.

Modern methods of construction (MMC) is speeding up healthcare delivery to address the ageing infrastructure. Modular hospital construction projects are improving efficiency, quality and sustainability: modular buildings can be quickly assembled, provide additional capacity if demand is high, and assert better quality management in a controlled offsite environment. Modular construction also avoids causing disruption to existing on-site operations.

A new outpatient building at King’s College Hospital was designed as a modular construction to generate cost efficiencies, minimise noise and keep disruption to a minimum. It was reported in a Building Design & Construction article that the new outpatient consultation and procedure facility was handed over within nine months, with the modules being installed on an existing car park at the hospital in just 23 days.

The need for greater sustainability and carbon reduction

NHS England is committed to becoming the first net zero national health service. Two prime targets were set to achieve this:

NHS Carbon Footprint

For directly controlled emissions, NHS England is committed to reaching net zero by 2040, with a target to achieve an 80% carbon reduction by 2028 to 2032

NHS Carbon Footprint Plus

For emissions that NHS England can influence, the target is to reach net zero by 2045, with an additional ambition to achieve an 80% carbon reduction by 2036 to 2039.

These targets directly impact estate operations and the policies issued by NHS Trust executives and healthcare estate managers. Technology is key to achieving carbon reduction objectives and greater sustainability.

A recent CCBP article outlined how AI can forecast carbon emissions of projects and, crucially for estates managers and facility operators, machine learning (ML) can identify where a change of materials can reduce ongoing emissions and mitigate the cost of potential rework that may be required to maintain compliance with emissions regulations.

In the NHS England report, ‘Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service’, technology is identified as being key to capturing nitrous oxide which could cut over one-third of NHS anaesthetic emissions which produce a particularly high carbon footprint. Likewise, technology-based carbon capture and storage methods are being developed for greater impact. The report states that the NHS’s work on sustainability and carbon reduction will be, ‘continually subject to change as technology evolves, the regulatory environment changes, resources materialise, and more data becomes available.’

Improving energy efficiency and operational performance of new hospital builds

Emerging technologies and digital systems are central to improving the energy efficiency and operational performance of new hospital builds.

The New Hospital Programme aspires to improve operational performance by developing ‘smart hospitals’ and modern healthcare facilities using digital technologies and innovation. Smart building technologies such as energy management systems and automated lighting, optimise energy use and manage climate control for a better patient experience.

The design of the new Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, funded under the New Hospital Programme, has embraced technology to produce systems that create energy and operational efficiencies for providing the best possible care. Digital medical equipment and patient records, handheld technologies and smart building management systems that manage lighting, temperature and air quality, will benefit estates managers, practitioners and patients. Construction is expected to begin between 2027 and 2028.

The new Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, due to open in 2027, has been designed with patient experience in mind, embracing new technologies to develop excellence and innovation in clinical care. For facilities and estate management, smart technology will introduce greater efficiencies and operational performance. A UCL article claims, “The state-of-the-art centre will be the first NHS digitally enabled SMART hospital in which technology will play a pivotal role in how people use the building. Improving access and reducing eye healthcare inequalities have been an important focus through the design process.”

Rising maintenance costs

Rising maintenance and repair costs have a significant impact on the operation of healthcare buildings. Undetected problems are expensive to fix.

Smart monitoring technology in healthcare estates such as air quality monitoring, humidity tracking, water leak detection and smart meters enhances building performance. It can also be used to predict when and where maintenance will be required to reduce failures and waste, which minimises unnecessary maintenance costs.

State-of-the-art drones can also be used for aerial inspections of construction sites to detect potential safety risks and identify where maintenance is required.

The future of healthcare estates is being shaped by groundbreaking technologies. To explore this evolution, we spoke with Carl-Magnus von Behr, Director and Co-Founder of Innex Ai, a visionary in the field. He offered a compelling perspective on the emerging technologies with the most significant potential. His thoughts: “Multimodal AI – integrating text, images, and sensor data – will revolutionise healthcare estates. Combined with big data and digital twins, these technologies will enable advanced automation and decision support, optimising operations, maintenance, and sustainability efforts over the next five years.”

The Centre for Construction Best Practice is committed industry leading standards, new ideas and innovation. Becoming a member grants you access to our latest research and visibility to a community of likeminded professionals looking to advance in the Built Environment Sector. Learn more about our memberships here.