In today's healthcare landscape, many hospital visitors encounter significant challenges when navigating complex hospital layouts, often leading to missed appointments and increased stress. This is also a common issue for various facilities across the UK. Recognising the importance of addressing these challenges, Warwick Hospital, run by South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is embracing a transformative approach through digital innovation.
As a complex healthcare facility with outdated infrastructure, 388 inpatient beds and a variety of outpatient services—including Emergency Department (ED), Intensive Care, Maternity, and the Special Care Baby Unit—navigating Warwick Hospital can prove challenging to some of its visitors, adding stress during what may already be a difficult time.
The Trust is investing significantly to develop the hospital estate, to modernise the buildings, increase surgical capacity and improve wayfinding. As part of this work to address the challenges and enhance the experience for both patients and staff, the Trust has recently partnered with Living Map to implement a dynamic, digital mapping solution. The solution provides accessible stair-free routing and wayfinding to users and collects data on spatial hotspots and foot traffic to ensure smoother and more efficient hospital operations.
In addition to improving internal navigation and operations, the digital map displays and provides accessible public transport links, promoting more sustainable ways of travelling to and from the site. Available on the hospital’s website, via QR codes, on mobile, and two interactive kiosks onsite, the map marks a significant step in the hospital's digital transformation journey. By choosing Living Map, a market leader in digital wayfinding, the hospital is embracing smart technology to provide better care for its patients.
Nigel Corcoran, Associate Director of Capital and Estates at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our Trust’s partnership with Living Map represents a proactive and forward-thinking approach to address wayfinding and navigation issues attributed to ageing infrastructure and subsequent building developments. By implementing this digital mapping solution, we will not only enhance patient care and experience, but streamline internal operations. Through this solution, we are committed to reducing missed appointments and easing visitor stress, ultimately contributing to more efficient and patient-centred care.”
Peter Asman, CRO at Living Map, said: "As healthcare facilities grow more complex, the need for effective wayfinding becomes critical. At Living Map, we’re proud to partner with hospitals like Warwick to deliver a smart, user-friendly solution that reduces patient stress, improves operational efficiency, and addresses a problem faced by many hospitals across the UK."
As part of this implementation, Living Map has developed a universal NHS styling sheet, meaning the map can be designed for any UK trusts and hospitals using the NHS brand guidelines.
Explore the map at Warwick Hospital.