Exploring the Role of Robotics and Software in Healthcare Cleaning
Cleaning operations in healthcare settings are evolving — and the latest generation of cleaning robotics and software solutions are beginning to play a growing role in supporting NHS facilities teams.
With the latest Cleaning Supplies, Equipment and Associated Products framework, developed by our NHS Supply Chain: Facilities and Office Solutions team, trusts now have access to an expanded range of robotic cleaning equipment and cleaning management software to complement traditional methods. But beyond the products themselves, it’s important to consider how these technologies can practically support healthcare environments.
In clinical settings, maintaining a consistently high standard of cleanliness is essential — yet the demands on facilities teams have never been greater. Robotics are not here to replace frontline domestic service teams. Their role is to take on routine, time-intensive tasks — such as corridor vacuuming, floor scrubbing in non-patient areas, or large-surface disinfection during quieter periods — so teams can focus their time where it has the biggest impact. By automating these repetitive jobs, trusts can give trams more ‘Time to Clean’, enabling them to prioritise detailed cleaning, high-contact patient areas, and responsive tasks where human oversight is essential.
This isn’t about removing jobs — it’s about making the best use of people’s time, supporting them with practical tools that reduce pressure, and creating capacity where it’s most needed.
Cleaning software is also emerging as a valuable tool in strengthening audit readiness and compliance with the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness. By enabling trusts to track schedules, log completed cleans, and generate real-time reports, software systems reduce the burden of manual record-keeping and provide managers with clearer visibility of performance. In some cases, this also supports better planning of resource allocation, identifying trends or areas of recurring need more quickly.
Recent advancements in robotic navigation, adaptive cleaning routes, and integration with scheduling software have made robotic equipment more viable within the NHS than ever before — especially in areas like outpatient departments, waiting rooms, and support spaces where predictable cleaning routines can be automated without disrupting care delivery.
This customer-focused approach was central to the design of the updated framework. Camille Grech-Cini, Category Manager for Cleaning, explains:
“We’ve seen through both the sourcing process and engagement with the AHCP community that trusts want to explore innovation — but they need a reliable route to do it. Robotics and software were added to the framework because customers asked for practical options that could ease operational pressures without introducing unnecessary complexity. It’s not about chasing technology for the sake of it — it’s about making sure the framework reflects where healthcare cleaning is heading, while giving people the support they need to make informed decisions.”
Looking ahead, cleaning robotics and software are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting workforce resilience, service consistency, and operational efficiency. Most importantly, they help trusts ensure their cleaning teams have more time to clean, focusing efforts where they are most valued, while automating less impactful tasks.
Through the latest framework, trusts now have a structured route to explore these technologies — with the flexibility to see how they can complement existing facilities strategies, align with sustainability goals, and ultimately support safer care environments.
We encourage you to get in touch with our category experts if you would like to explore how cleaning robotics or software could support your organisation. You can contact the team at facilitiesandofficesolutionssupport@supplychain.nhs.uk.