Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Supporting two hospitals
Pager replacement
more patients admitted, transferred or discharged within the 4-hour target
reduction in stress levels
reduction in communicating pathology results
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) partnered with Alertive as part of a wider digital transformation programme to improve emergency department performance, streamline communication, and enhance patient flow.
With over 1 million patients served annually by NNUH, even small inefficiencies had a major impact. Communication and coordination across the Trust were limiting emergency care delivery, with legacy systems such as pagers creating delays, reducing visibility, and making it difficult for teams to collaborate effectively in time critical situations.
Referral pathways were frequently disrupted by miscommunication, leading to delays, incorrect routing, and unnecessary pressure on clinical teams. These issues also contributed to extended ambulance wait times and growing patient backlogs in the emergency department.
Staff feedback highlighted significant operational strain, particularly among junior clinicians, who were disproportionately affected by inefficient processes. Time spent chasing responses or clarifying referrals reduced time available for patient care and contributed to increased stress and burnout.
As part of a Trust-wide modernisation initiative, NNUH implemented Alertive to replace pagers with a secure, real-time digital platform that enabled communication and coordination.
The solution enabled instant collaboration between emergency, assessment, and ward teams, ensuring that key information could be shared quickly and reliably. Referral processes were digitised, reducing manual errors and enabling faster, more accurate decision-making.
At the same time, improved coordination between the emergency department and ambulance services helped streamline patient handovers and reduce delays. These changes were supported by redesigned workflows that prioritised clarity, efficiency, and ease of use in high-pressure clinical environments.
Associate Nursing Director
Alertive has enabled the team to be transparent with communication by alerting, informing and updating wider teams in regard to escalation and potential problems. As most issues require a collaborative approach requiring multiple teams and individuals to be informed in real time, Alertive solves that problem.
CNIO and Deputy CCIO
In our laboratories, the time taken to communicate pathology results has dropped from 54 minutes to just four, transforming the workload and improving the quality of care we can provide.
Patient flow improved significantly, with an additional 1,500 patients (7.95%) per month admitted, transferred, or discharged within the 4-hour target.
Communication of critical pathology results was dramatically accelerated, dropping by 93% from 53 minutes to an average of just 4.
Operational efficiency gains also translated into better working conditions, with staff reporting a 47% reduction in stress levels and a 23% decrease in burnout, fueled in part by a 62% reduction in unnecessary out-of-hours messaging.
NNUH continues to build on its digital transformation strategy. Future plans include expanding digital workflows across additional departments, further optimising referral and communication pathways, and continuing to evaluate impact through performance data and staff feedback.
