Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital sits in nearly 20 acres of woodland, offering patients comfort and access to specialist care. To maintain high-quality lighting, we worked closely with Nuffield and CBRE to retrofit their original Rotalux bedhead luminaires with sustainable LEDs.

Installed in 2000, our original Rotalux bedhead luminaires provided bright, neutral light to support medical checks and procedures. These fittings were designed for fluorescent tubes, which over time have become inefficient, costly to maintain and outdated. Routine replacement was required, and the aging electronics were starting to fail, reducing light levels and limiting room availability.

Through our ReLight retrofitting scheme, we developed a bespoke LED retrofit solution. By reusing the existing luminaire bodies, lenses, and much of the internal wiring, we were able to replace only the outdated fluorescent electronics with modern LED arrays and drivers. This allowed the fittings to fit seamlessly into the original casings and click-in brackets, retaining the existing controls while delivering a brighter, more energy-efficient light.

The retrofit could be carried out on a room-by-room basis, avoiding the need to take entire wings offline, meaning two bedrooms that had been out of service were quickly reinstated. “It’s fantastic to have these rooms back in action,” said the Facilities Manager, Michael Tubby.

The results speak for themselves. The upgraded luminaires provide improved visibility for staff, reduced energy consumption and lower maintenance costs. They are future-proofed against the declining availability of fluorescent tubes, ensuring long-term reliability.

As Facilities Manager, Michael, noted, “The lights will now outlast the bedroom”, a testament to the durability of the original metalwork and lenses combined with our retrofit technology. The upgrade delivers brighter, more energy-efficient light, lower maintenance costs, and future-proofing against scarce fluorescent tubes.

From a sustainability perspective, retrofitting 40 fittings saves around 920kg CO₂e which is the equivalent of the carbon absorbed by 40 fully grown oak trees.

Feedback from the maintenance team and ward manager after installation was overwhelmingly positive. They were delighted not only with the improved light output and energy efficiency of the new fittings but also with how quickly the project was delivered. Staff commented on the noticeably brighter lighting and the improved working conditions.

They were equally pleased to discover that the original manufacturer was still operating 25 years on, and that we were based just an hour away in the same county, making the project even more convenient.

This successful project demonstrates how smart retrofits can reduce costs, cut carbon and improve lighting quality, helping hospitals work smarter and greener.