Hark Systems has been appointed to provide expertise and consultancy for the NHS Property Services Smarter Buildings Program.
The contract, confirmed for an initial three months, will focus on designing the eco-system of technology to enable the connectivity of buildings and assets across over 3,600 NHS facilities.
Since it was launched in 2013, NHS Property Services (NHS PS) now has ownership of over 3,600 NHS facilities, one of the largest property portfolios in the UK with a total value of over £3billion.
The important work done by NHS PS helps to keep buildings clean, safe, warm, and compliant, with dedicated facilities management teams working on the frontline.
However, owning this many properties has challenges, such as gaining access to the critical data needed to improve efficiency of systems and industrial assets.
The Smarter Buildings Program aims to implement an ‘eco-system’, designed by Hark, which will be a central technological enabler, allowing NHS PS to collect, input, archive, analyse, and report on its estate in a consistent and efficient way.
We recognise the important role data and technology plays in helping reduce the environmental impact of the NHS and creating greener, healthier communities
This will enable NHS PS to react to facility and management information in real time and control buildings remotely through a digital twin environment by integrating software into their Building Management Systems (BMS).
Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, BMS, artificial intelligence (AI), and augmented reality are among some of the technology that will be included to help optimise estate performance in the future.
Hark is helping NHS PS by offering the provision of technology consultancy services to aid in the discovery phase of this project.
Topics Hark will be consulting on include IoT standards, asset connectivity, IoT platforms and dashboarding, reporting and alerting, data ingestion, and data storage.
Jordan Appleson, chief executive of Hark, said: “It is exciting to be designing something that will enable the connectivity of such a large estate alongside the NHS Property Services team.
“We feel very well placed to deliver the brief and beyond with our background and experience in large complex estates and also highly-regulated healthcare labs and buildings.”
Cameron Hawkins, head of energy and environment at NHS PS, added: “As owners of 10% of the NHS estate, we play a key role in reducing emissions, helping the NHS adapt to climate change and building healthier communities.
Hark’s approach to systems design clearly aligns with our program, demonstrating the power of its capabilities in the smart buildings environment and enabling us to support the NHS deliver excellent patient care, both now and in the future
“Our Green Plan is our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and promoting sustainable healthcare.
“As part of that plan, we recognise the important role data and technology plays in helping reduce the environmental impact of the NHS and creating greener, healthier communities.
“Hark’s approach to systems design clearly aligns with this, demonstrating the power of its capabilities in the smart buildings environment and enabling us to support the NHS deliver excellent patient care, both now and in the future.”
