Silent Hospital Project at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
A quieter, calmer hospital environment for better patient care
Imagine a postnatal ward where mothers and babies can rest and recover without the constant interruptions of traditional hospital noise. The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has taken a significant step towards making this vision a reality with the Silent Hospital Project. This initiative is designed to reduce noise and alarm fatigue by replacing traditional call bells with a silent digital alert system. It began as a six-month evaluation and is being extended due to its early success.
The driving force behind the Silent Hospital
Hospitals can be noisy environments, with call bells and alarms frequently disrupting rest and recovery. Recognising the impact of excessive noise on patient wellbeing, RCHT sought a solution that would create a more peaceful environment while maintaining and even improving response efficiency. This led to the implementation of the Silent Hospital Project, leveraging the DNV Imatis Fundamentum platform, which integrates seamlessly with the hospital’s Wandsworth Healthcare nurse call system.
By silencing call bells and routing alerts directly to staff mobile devices, the Silent Hospital Project has delivered a range of benefits that extend beyond just noise reduction.
The tangible benefits
Enhanced sleep quality
A reduction in noise has led to a 12% improvement in patient-reported sleep quality, directly addressing the issue of noise disruption.
Reduced length of stay
The average length of stay (ALOS) is reduced by 0.5 days per patient.
Cost savings
The reduction in ALOS equates to annual savings of £74,942 on this one ward with only 25 beds. If you take that across the entire hospital, this translates in substantial cost savings.
Reduced stress levels
Patients are less anxious on the wards, and staff experience better atmosphere and work environment.
Better communication
Direct alert routing enables staff to immediately assess patient needs and coordinate appropriate responses. Clearer communication and few distractions minimise misunderstandings.
Supportive healing environment
A calm atmosphere promotes a healing environment, benefiting both physical and mental health
The technology powering the Silent Hospital
At the heart of the project is the DNV Imatis Fundamentum platform, tailored to meet RCHT’s specific needs. The solution has been designed to seamlessly integrate with the hospital’s existing infrastructure while offering several key technological benefits:
- Real-time monitoring: Staff can instantly view patient alerts and respond efficiently.
- Customisable alerts: Alerts are routed to the appropriate healthcare professional, reducing unnecessary notifications, noise and information overload.
- Data-driven insights: The system tracks patient alerts and response times, enabling continuous improvement in care delivery.
- Flexibility and control: If necessary, staff can switch back to audio alerts using a dedicated key switch, ensuring adaptability in different care scenarios.
The Silent Hospital project has achieved impressive results:
- A 3dB Reduction in noise levels: Equivalent to a 50% decrease in noise on the ward.
- A 0.5-day reduction in ALOS: Improving hospital efficiency and patient turnover.
- Higher patient satisfaction: 57% of patients who previously struggled to sleep during their stay reported significant improvements in sleep quality.
- Better working conditions for staff: Surveys revealed improved job satisfaction and reduced stress due to fewer interruptions and a calmer work environment.
Encouraged by these successes, RCHT will extend the Silent Hospital project, with a long-term plan to scale the initiative across the organisation. The project also aligns with RCHT’s vision for the upcoming Women and Children’s Hospital.
Finalist for the HSJ Partnership Awards 2025
The impact of the Silent Hospital project has not gone unnoticed, and it has been recognised as finalists in the Best Technology Partnership of the Year category at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2025. Competing against hundreds of entries, this recognition highlights the tranformative impact of the Silent Hospital Project.
The Silent Hospital project is gaining national and regional media attention across the UK for its approach to creating quieter, more patient-friendly hospital environments, delivering measurable cost savings.
Improving patient flow at Haraldsplass Diaconal Hospital
Digital collaboration and task support at Oslo Emergency Clinic
