The NHS is under unprecedented strain, facing not only staffing shortages and rising demand but also a critical backlog of infrastructure maintenance.
Across the UK, hospitals are being asked to deliver round-the-clock care in buildings not designed to cope with today's operational pressures. Nowhere is this more evident than in behind-the-scenes systems that often go unnoticed, like wastewater management.
Hospitals operate under some of the most demanding conditions of any public-sector facility
High footfall, continuous usage, and a growing variety of non-flushable materials all place increasing pressure on hospital wastewater systems.
But what happens when those systems start to fail? The impact is immediate: flooding, contamination risks, maintenance shutdowns, and costly tanker intervention - all of which divert staff, resources, and funding away from all-important patient care.
An NHS facility under pressure
Hospitals operate under some of the most demanding conditions of any public-sector facility. This is the result of several factors coming together, such as a large volume of patients, complicated medical requirements, financial strain, and the constant need to be prepared for emergencies.
High footfall, repeated use, and the disposal of unsuitable items into wastewater systems make them especially vulnerable to blockages, equipment fatigue, and costly emergency interventions.
By eliminating blockages, hospitals can avoid costly maintenance call-outs
In an environment where uninterrupted service is critical, the inefficiency and unpredictability of the hospital’s wastewater system have become a growing risk to both budgets and patient care.
Worsening these challenges is an ageing infrastructure, built not for the demands of today, nor the volume and compliance standards, which, according to NHS Digital, handled more than 130 million m³ of wastewater throughout the NHS estate in 2022/23.
Innovation in high-demand infrastructure
The NHS has made digital transformation a priority, aiming to enhance operational efficiency through automation and improved data insight.
This is particularly relevant for estate infrastructure like wastewater systems, where legacy pipework often remains functional but difficult to maintain at scale.
We know replacing entire networks isn't always viable or realistic given the existing financial restraints, but using intelligent systems to monitor, manage, and optimise performance of the current operation is emerging as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative.
Velocity Sentinam is designed to address exactly these types of challenges. The intelligent system combines cutting-edge chopper pumps with adaptive control technology and cloud-connected remote monitoring, offering an end-to-end solution that is both proactive and preventative.
This shift from reactive maintenance to predictive management is particularly critical in healthcare environments
Unlike traditional setups that rely on manual oversight and reactive, often costly, fixes, this innovation continuously monitors real-time conditions, adapting pump operations to prevent issues before they escalate.
Engineered specifically for high-risk sites like hospitals, the system is built to handle unpredictable flows, debris-heavy wastewater, and long periods of continuous use without failure.
Its integrated features, including automatic removal of debris, surface skimming and full compatibility with Building Management Systems, dramatically reduce manual input and enable teams to focus on higher-value maintenance tasks.
Zero blockages, zero downtime
Maintenance and emergency repair costs in healthcare facilities are significantly higher when issues are unplanned, with emergency interventions costing 1.5 to 3 times more than scheduled maintenance.
By eliminating blockages, hospitals can avoid costly maintenance call-outs, improve system resilience and ensure consistent service availability for patients and employees.
One Midlands NHS Trust was grappling with frequent wastewater blockages and costly tanker callouts, disrupting daily operations and straining resources.
Designed with the NHS in mind, this system helps meet public sector goals for carbon reduction and sustainable estate management
In a high-demand, compliance-driven environment, they needed a reliable, low-maintenance solution. That’s where we came in.
Since installing Velocity Sentinam over a year ago, the hospital has reported zero blockages, a remarkable turnaround that has eliminated the need for regular tanker visits and removed a significant source of daily disruption for site management.
Just as importantly, the financial benefits have come not from temporary cost-cutting measures, but from long-term, systemic improvements in infrastructure efficiency, offering a replicable model for healthcare estates across the country.
A smarter approach to facilities management
Based on direct insight gathered during the installation, conversations with estate teams, engineers and facilities managers consistently highlighted the same challenge; existing wastewater systems were too reactive, requiring constant manual oversight and falling short in high-demand environments.
In response, Velocity Sentinam was developed not simply as a more robust pump solution, but as an intelligent system designed to adapt in real time, operate autonomously, and provide estate teams with greater visibility and control.
Velocity Sentinam isn’t just a tool; it’s a change in mindset
This shift from reactive maintenance to predictive management is particularly critical in healthcare environments, where even short periods of system downtime can disrupt operations and impact patient care.
Instead, the tool’s adaptive design helps ensure continuity, allowing critical services to run smoothly without additional strain on stretched maintenance teams.
Sustainable infrastructure for the long term
Increasingly, businesses worldwide - across all sectors - are reviewing their operations to reduce carbon footprints and meet growing environmental responsibilities.
The NHS, too, is responsible for 4% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, but has a commitment to achieving net zero by 2040.
As a vehicle to help businesses achieve those ambitious targets, Velocity Sentinam offers long-term sustainability by improving energy efficiency, reducing emergency interventions, and extending equipment lifespan.
It works by continuously monitoring wastewater systems to detect issues early and maintain optimal flow, preventing blockages before they happen.
Facilities teams shouldn’t have to choose between performance and affordability, or between resilience and sustainability
Designed with the NHS in mind, this system helps meet public sector goals for carbon reduction and sustainable estate management.
Especially for hospitals under pressure to meet environmental targets, it ensures uninterrupted and optimised service delivery through proactive monitoring and performance maintenance - all without compromising reliability.
A dependable solution for NHS facilities, it balances operational needs with sustainability objectives.
The future of pumping systems in critical infrastructure
The Midlands NHS Trust case study illustrates what’s possible when innovation is guided by real-world problems and shaped by collaboration.
It also signals a broader shift in how public sector infrastructure is managed, moving from reactive maintenance cycles to predictive, data-driven systems that support resilience and cost-effectiveness.
Velocity Sentinam isn’t just a tool; it’s a change in mindset. Facilities teams shouldn’t have to choose between performance and affordability, or between resilience and sustainability.
With this system, they can have all of it, and the feedback we’re receiving shows it’s making a genuine difference in critical sectors like healthcare.
As we continue to expand the reach of our technology, our work with the NHS serves as a clear benchmark. It shows that, with the right tools, smarter water management is not just a pipedream; it can become a reality.