The digital trials are underway at the Linden Lodge unit at the City Hospital site – a 25-bed unit for patients requiring neuro-rehabilitation.

The technology being trialled also includes intelligent patient terminals that can guide patients through additional rehabilitation exercise and a digital twin of the building that enables staff to see which rooms are in use and to book rooms and equipment.

The aim is to ensure that the right technology is in place to provide patients and staff with the best possible environment for intensive rehabilitation when the new National Rehabilitation Centre opens its doors in Summer 2025. 

These trials are funded by The Lister Alliance, an innovation programme developed and funded by Cisco's Country Digital Acceleration initiative, which works to support the government's drive to transform the public sector with digital technology.

To ensure that the right technology is implemented and developed for patients undergoing rehabilitation, staff at Linden Lodge have been involved in the plans for the digital trials since the beginning.

Lisa Yates, digital strategy lead at NUH, said: ‘Until the technology has been implemented in a real, live, patient environment, we don't fully know how they are going to work, and we need that feedback from patients and staff.

‘As a result, staff are excited by the technology as they have seen how their ideas have shaped the technology being introduced to meet their needs and make the rehabilitation experience better for their patients and their colleagues.'

Declan Hadley, healthcare lead at Cisco UK & Ireland, added: ‘The team at Linden Lodge have put in place a solid foundation, that will enable future developments in Al, robotics and other emerging technologies, which taken together will help patients and staff to achieve better outcomes.'