Porters Care is proud to share the outstanding results from the NHS-led evaluation of Nobi Smart Lamps in Suffolk care homes, which demonstrates how smart care technology can significantly improve resident safety while delivering substantial savings for the NHS.
Commissioned by the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) as part of its Digitising Social Care Programme, the evaluation provides robust evidence that Nobi Smart Lamps are transforming falls detection, prevention and response, while reducing avoidable pressure on NHS services.
What Are Nobi Smart Lamps?
Nobi Smart Lamps are AI-enabled, ceiling-mounted lights designed specifically for care environments. They replace a standard ceiling light and discreetly monitor movement using privacy-by-design technology.
The lamps:
- Detect witnessed and unwitnessed falls
- Differentiate between a true fall and a controlled descent
- Provide real-time alerts to care staff
- Automatically activate soft night lighting to reduce trip hazards
- Use anonymised stick-figure imagery to protect resident dignity and privacy
This combination allows care teams to respond faster, make better decisions and avoid unnecessary escalation to emergency services.
Overview of the NHS Evaluation
The evaluation covered 87 resident rooms across seven Suffolk care homes, including residential, nursing, dementia and assisted living settings. The project was funded by the NHS for three years, with care providers committing to ongoing use beyond the funded period.
The evaluation assessed:
- Falls and incident management
- Ambulance callouts
- Hospital visits and admissions
- Length of hospital stay
- Staff confidence and workflow
- Resident and family reassurance
- System-wide NHS savings
Porters Care delivered the project as Nobi’s UK partner, working closely with the NHS, Suffolk County Council and participating care providers.
Incredible Results for Residents, Staff and the NHS
Dramatic Reduction in NHS Demand
One of the most striking outcomes of the evaluation is the clear reduction in avoidable NHS activity, including:
- Up to 75% reduction in hospital visits
- Up to 100% reduction in hospital admissions in some homes
- Up to 65% reduction in ambulance callouts
- Shorter hospital stays when admission was genuinely required
Across the evaluation period, this equated to an estimated £89,000 in avoided emergency care costs in just six months, with a projected return on investment of 196% over three years.
These results clearly demonstrate the value of Nobi Smart Lamps as an NHS-aligned preventative technology, reducing pressure on A&E departments, ambulance services and acute hospital beds.
Better Falls Detection – Not More Falls
Some homes recorded an increase in the number of reported falls. Crucially, the evaluation confirms this was due to improved detection of previously unwitnessed or minor incidents, not an increase in risk.
Care staff were able to:
- Confirm whether a resident had genuinely fallen
- Avoid unnecessary ambulance callouts
- Provide accurate evidence to paramedics and clinicians
- Reduce inappropriate safeguarding alerts
Improved Staff Confidence and Workflow
Staff feedback throughout the evaluation was overwhelmingly positive. Nobi Smart Lamps were shown to:
- Improve confidence, particularly on night shifts
- Reduce time spent investigating incidents
- Support quicker, evidence-based decision making
- Enable more meaningful handovers between shifts
- Reduce alert fatigue compared to traditional falls mats
Reassurance for Families and Residents
Families consistently reported greater peace of mind, knowing that staff would be alerted instantly if a fall occurred.
Residents benefited from:
- Faster response times
- Reduced intrusive night-time checks
- Greater dignity and independence
- A calmer night-time environment
In some cases, families specifically chose homes using Nobi Smart Lamps, recognising the added layer of protection and innovation.
Partnership with Porters Care
The evaluation also highlights the importance of strong implementation and ongoing support.
Porters Care played a central role in:
- Supporting care homes through installation
- Providing training and troubleshooting
- Acting as a liaison between the NHS, care providers and Nobi
The evaluation specifically acknowledges Neil Johnston, Business Development Director at Porters Care, for his hands-on support throughout the project and his commitment to ensuring successful adoption across Suffolk.
This partnership approach was a key factor in achieving the outcomes seen across the NHS evaluation.
A Clear Case for Wider Adoption
The NHS evaluation concludes that Nobi Smart Lamps deliver measurable benefits for residents, care providers and the wider health system. The findings strongly support wider adoption of smart monitoring technology as part of NHS and social care transformation strategies.
For care providers, the benefits extend beyond safety:
- Reduced operational strain
- Improved regulatory confidence
- Enhanced reputation with families
- Tangible contribution to NHS sustainability
Download the Full Evaluation
You can download the full NHS Evaluation of Nobi Smart Lamps in Suffolk Care Homes via the link below to explore the detailed findings, case studies and system savings in full.
