Silent Hospital pilot expands to antenatal services at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has launched Phase 2 of its Silent Hospital pilot, extending the innovative digital technology to antenatal services within maternity care.
Following the successful pilot on Wheal Fortune (postnatal) Ward which has been operating successfully for two years, the next phase will be introduced on Wheal Rose (antenatal) Ward, including Maternity Triage and the Day Assessment Unit. The expansion marks an important step in testing the technology in a higher‑acuity clinical setting.
The Silent Hospital pilot uses smart but simple digital technology to divert traditional audible patient call bells to mobile devices carried by midwives and nursing staff. This removes unnecessary noise while maintaining rapid and safe communication, helping to create a calmer environment for patients and staff alike.
The Silent Hospital project is being delivered by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, in partnership with DNV Imatis and Wandsworth Healthcare.
Phase 2 of the pilot will run for six months, until October 2026. During this time, we will evaluate reductions in noise levels, impacts on staff wellbeing and productivity, improvements in patient experience, and any potential improvement in patient length of stay.
The project forms part of RCHT’s wider digital strategy for the new Women and Children’s Hospital, ensuring digital innovation is embedded into clinical environments from the outset.
Tamsin Allen, Silent Hospital Project Lead at RCHT, said: “The Silent Hospital pilot is a great example of how digital technology can make a real, practical difference to both patient experience and staff wellbeing. As we plan for the new Women and Children’s Hospital, we are focused on designing digital‑first environments that are calmer, safer and smarter, with technology working quietly in the background to support excellent care.”
Cesilie Kullerud, DNV Imatis Chief Marketing and Communications Officer added: “It’s great to continue our work with Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust as the Silent Hospital pilot moves into its next phase. Expanding into antenatal services is a natural progression, and we look forward to continuing to support the team as they build on the positive experience from the postnatal ward, contributing to a calmer and well-coordinated care environment.”
Angelette Ferro, Head of Sales, Wandsworth Healthcare said: “Wandsworth Healthcare is pleased to be supporting this next phase of the Silent Hospital pilot as it expands into antenatal services. This innovative partnership shows the exciting potential of digital technologies to reshape care environments, improving the experience for both staff and patients by supporting wellbeing, operational efficiency and better care, and creating smarter, more patient-centred healthcare.”
Looking ahead, RCHT is also exploring a range of digital solutions as part of the New Hospital Programme, including equipment and patient tracking, digital wayfinding, space utilisation tools, smarter facilities management, and integrated building and energy management systems.