Ensuring water safety across a large NHS estate is no small task but Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) wanted to make it simpler, smarter, and more reliable. Partnering with Micad and ZetaSafe, the Trust developed a mobile Water Flushing App that replaced paper-based processes with real-time digital compliance.
The result? A safer, more efficient system that’s now setting the standard for estates teams across the NHS.
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Background
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) partnered with Micad to modernise the way it manages water hygiene compliance. Together, they created a smart, mobile-based Water Flushing App powered by ZetaSafe, replacing outdated manual processes with a digital-first approach.
The app automates flushing schedules, tracks task completion, and generates real-time reports—removing the burden of paper records and spreadsheets. This shift not only streamlines monitoring and reporting but also improves compliance, reduces administrative workload, and enhances productivity across the estates team.
“Your contribution has made a significant impact. It’s been a game-changer for us.” Phil Budd, Head of Estates, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The innovation has already attracted national recognition, winning the HEFMA Efficiency & Improvement Award 2025 and the IHEEM Healthcare Estates Product Innovation of the Year Award 2025.
The Challenge
BCHC delivers over 100 NHS services across multiple sites to a population of more than 1.2 million people, supported by a workforce of 5,000 staff. Ensuring water safety across such a vast estate was becoming increasingly complex.
• Manual record-keeping was time-consuming and frustrating for frontline staff.
• Missed flushing tasks were common, creating compliance risks.
• Lack of visibility meant management had no real-time assurance of what had been completed.
The Estates team needed a solution that was simple, traceable, and reliable—one that would reduce risk, make compliance straightforward, and provide full oversight across the estate.
The Solution
Working closely with the BCHC Estates team, Micad developed the Water Flushing App using ZetaSafe’s mobile compliance platform.
The goal: make flushing easy to carry out, easy to record, and easy to track.
• QR codes were installed at each outlet. Staff scanned the code, performed the flush, and logged the task instantly.
• Time-stamped records created a clear, real-time audit trail.
• Custom management reports displayed completed, missed, and upcoming tasks—removing the need to chase paperwork.
• Simple training, including a short video, ensured even non-technical staff could adopt the system with confidence.
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Most importantly, we saw a marked reduction in waterborne bacteria—demonstrating a clear link between digital compliance and improved safety outcomes.
Phil Budd, Head of Estates, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The Results
The impact was immediate and measurable:
• Improved compliance – Missed tasks reduced, and all activity was traceable.
• Full visibility – Estates managers gained real-time oversight across multiple sites.
• Improved safety – A marked reduction in waterborne bacteria, directly linked to better compliance.
• Freed-up time – By removing paperwork, staff could focus more on patient care.
“By taking a data-driven approach, BCHC boosted asset performance, created better working environments for staff, and maintained facilities that are truly fit for purpose—resulting in a more efficient and patient-centred healthcare system.” Jack Heappey, Micad Account Manager
Why It Worked
The success of the project went beyond technology—it was about designing with users in mind.
• Frontline staff found the system intuitive: scan, flush, log.
• Cutting corners became harder, compliance became easier.
• Managers no longer had to chase spreadsheets or second-guess data.
This people-first approach ensured the tool was embraced across the Trust, driving lasting improvements in safety and efficiency.
Recognition
The success of the Water Flushing App has been celebrated well beyond BCHC. By rethinking a long-standing challenge with a fresh, digital-first mindset, the Estates team and Micad demonstrated how innovation can deliver tangible safety and efficiency benefits in the NHS.
This pioneering approach didn’t just solve a local problem—it set a new standard for how estates teams across the country can tackle compliance. The project has since gained national attention, earning two prestigious honours:
- Winner – HEFMA Efficiency & Improvement Award 2025
- Winner – IHEEM Healthcare Estates Product Innovation of the Year Award 2025
These accolades recognise the project not only as an operational success but also as a model of digital transformation in healthcare compliance—showcasing how practical, people-focused innovation can deliver measurable impact at scale.
Key Takeaways
This project demonstrates that innovation doesn’t need to be complex to be effective. By digitising a single yet critical process, BCHC has delivered measurable improvements in safety, efficiency, compliance, staff satisfaction, and ultimately patient care. A simple, user-centred solution has transformed water hygiene management, showcasing how digital technology can make healthcare estates safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.