How a digitally advanced hospital is built for people

Smart technology in hospitals is not just about adding more tech. It’s about better care and smoother operations.

From IoT sensors and real-time data to connected workflows and calmer environments, smart hospitals are already reshaping the NHS. At the heart of it all? People-first thinking.

In this episode of FutureNow, Stefan Phillips speaks with Jamie Clegg, Head of Digital Innovation at Milton Keynes University Hospital Foundation NHS Trust. Together, they unpack what it really takes to build a smart, sustainable and people-first hospital.

Jamie shares lessons from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Proving how real-time data, IoT, and smart collaboration are transforming care, empowering staff, and setting the standard for the future of the NHS. 

From cutting noise and saving energy to giving staff better tools and patients better experiences. Thanks to the New Hospital Programme, teams can partner with industry experts and drive real change. Funding like the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration award accelerates proofs of concept and proofs of value, creating an ecosystem where staff and patients co-design what comes next.

One example: OpenRoaming. Arrive on site, authenticate via the NHS App, and you’re securely on the Wi-Fi, with no splash page. Your presence is confirmed, you can check in, and get helpful messages, such as: “your appointment’s running a little behind, grab a coffee”. Then, you can receive a wayfinding link when it’s time. Layer in AI to lift routine admin and clinicians get more time for what matters most: delivering quality care.

Watch the full episode and see what a people-first, data-driven NHS can look like.