Case Study: Lewisham Children’s Hospital
Transforming hospital layouts with ultra-precise occupancy data
Lewisham Children’s Hospital faced a unique challenge: balancing public access with the need to create calm, secure environments for young patients and their families.
With concerns around unauthorised access and a complex building layout, the hospital sought data-led insight to inform better space planning.
A 12-week Occupancy Survey
The sensitive hospital setting demanded a non-intrusive, highly accurate solution. In response, we deployed purpose-built, ultra-precise PIR sensors across the site to conduct a comprehensive 12-week occupancy survey.
Across the main hospital building’s six floors, a total of 512 sensors were installed for the three-month period of the survey. These ran 24/7, collecting reams of data which were analysed to reveal key patterns of movement, including how routes were being used through the building, which stairwells were busiest and when, and how clinical and public areas varied in occupancy over time.
What were the outcomes?
 High-traffic zones identified By pinpointing exactly where footfall was heaviest such as in corridors, stairwells, and waiting rooms, managers could redesign routes to divert traffic away from areas where patients required more privacy and minimise disruptions in clinical areas. |  Compartmentalised zones One priority was to distinguish family-friendly spaces from public routes. The data supported clear definition ofareas, reducing unnecessary crossover between visitors, patients and staff to make the space more welcoming. |  Enhanced overall safety Unexpected data highlighted weaknesses in the layout, addressing concerns around unauthorised access. From this, the estates team was able to implement more robust access controls, close off misused routes, and strengthen security. |
“Hospitals are complex environments, and in a children’s hospital, every decision about space has a direct impact on the wellbeing of young patients and their families. By delivering precise, anonymised occupancy data over 12 weeks, we gave Lewisham Children’s Hospital the insight it needed to make evidence-based changes — improving privacy, safety, and the overall experience for everyone who uses the building.”
— Tony Booty, Director, Abintra