September 23, 2026
An innovative artificial intelligence (AI) project pilot at Causeway Hospital has helped estates staff identify faults within hospital infrastructure and engineering systems faster and more efficiently.
The pilot, which has now concluded, was the first of its kind within the Trust. It used AI-driven analysis of data from hospital systems and infrastructure to identify potential irregularities and emerging faults. When unusual patterns were detected, such as temperature variations, pressure fluctuations, plant performance anomalies or equipment alarms, alerts were generated for review by the Estates team.
Director of Infrastructure, Paddy Graffin, said: “Traditionally, estates issues are identified following routine inspections, scheduled maintenance or reports from staff. While these processes remain vital, this latest pilot which uses AI technology to detect issues in the hospital infrastructure shows how AI can be used to support teams within the Trust. By pinpointing where the fault is, our Estates team are able to respond without having to first investigate where the fault is – this is doing the detective work for us which is greatly improving response times, but also ensuring we are able to detect any potential issues early and nip them in the bud before they would become a bigger problem for us.
“This early-warning approach allows the team to respond more quickly to faults, prioritise maintenance activity, target resources more effectively, reduce unplanned downtime and support safer environments for patients and staff.
“Given the focus on sustainability within our Corporate Plan this pilot supported wider Trust priorities around creating a more resilient healthcare system for generations to come as well as reflecting our continued commitment to using technology in practical, meaningful ways that make best use of staff time and expertise, protect patients and strengthen hospital infrastructure.”
The pilot was delivered in close collaboration with the Estates Operational Team at Causeway Hospital, who were key stakeholders throughout the project. Their operational knowledge, engagement and feedback have been instrumental in supporting the testing and development of the AI monitoring approach.
Initial observations from the pilot identified a range of system anomalies, including temperature deviations within building management systems, plant performance irregularities and equipment alarms requiring investigation. These insights have helped Estates teams assess how AI-generated information could complement existing maintenance and monitoring processes.
The pilot has now concluded and entered an evaluation phase. The findings will be reviewed to assess the effectiveness of the technology, identify lessons learned and determine whether similar AI-enabled approaches could deliver benefits across other Trust facilities.