How is Schneider Electric Making the NHS More Accessible?

In the case of hospitals, electrification and technology can bring sustainability and accessibility, as well as reducing costs and increasing patient autonomy.

Schneider Electric, the global leader in digital energy management and automation, is working with the NHS National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) to deploy technology in pursuit of these benefits.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with the National Rehabilitation Centre on this landmark project,” says Alice Williams, Schneider Electric’s VP of Digital Energy for UK&I. 

“Delivering the NHS’s first building to meet NHS Net Zero Operational Building Standard is a testament to what’s possible when innovation, sustainability and patient care come together.”

The state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility operated by Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust supports people recovering from life-changing illnesses or injuries and represents the NHS’s next step toward achieving net zero by 2040.

The £105m (US$139.5), 70-bed centre is the first building in England to meet the NHS Net Zero Operational Building Standard and demonstrates what the future of low-carbon hospitals looks like – intelligent, efficient and focused on patient wellbeing.

Smart technology for exceptional care

Building on successful live trials at NUH’s 25-bed neuro-rehabilitation unit, Linden Lodge, Schneider Electric is now deploying a suite of connected IoT technologies that combine patient comfort with operational efficiency. 

At the heart of the project is the EcoStruxure Connected Room Solution for Healthcare, an intuitive system empowering patients to adjust temperature, lighting and window blinds from their bedside terminal. 

For patients with limited mobility, these controls can also be activated through voice commands or body movements, restoring a sense of autonomy and easing routine tasks for clinical staff.

Data-driven efficiency and resilience

To manage and optimise the facility’s performance, the Schneider Electric Building Data Platform connects with the connected room solution, securely integrating the hospital’s IoT-enabled systems. 

This data-driven approach allows facilities teams to monitor critical parameters in real time, anticipate potential issues and maintain consistent, reliable operations. This is a vital feature in healthcare environments where safety and uptime are essential.

The NRC also benefits from EcoStruxure Building Operation, the company’s advanced Building Management System (BMS). The platform oversees the hospital’s HVAC, lighting and security systems, automatically optimising conditions based on occupancy and energy demand. By using real-time analytics and adaptive algorithms, it reduces carbon consumption and operational costs while enhancing comfort for patients and staff.

A digital blueprint for the all-electric hospital

Schneider Electric’s work at the NRC aligns with its global vision for the “all-electric hospital” – facilities that harness digital innovation to deliver reliable, resilient and sustainable healthcare infrastructure. Through connected and efficient design, the NRC proves how technology can reshape healthcare buildings into agile, low-carbon environments ready for future demands.

“Building the National Rehabilitation Centre has been a major undertaking,” says Lisa Yates, Senior Commercial Analyst for the NRC.

“It’s been many years in the making, which has allowed us to really understand the challenges for staff and patients and to test the technology in a live environment to see what’s possible and practical, ahead of us moving into the brand-new NRC.

“Working in close collaboration with Schneider Electric we’ve been able to roll out solutions that are exactly what we hoped for, setting new standards for patient care, efficiency, and sustainability.”