Schneider & DataCentre UK: Future-Ready Digital Healthcare

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) has undertaken an upgrade of its digital infrastructure through a £1.4m (US$1.8m) collaboration with Schneider Electric and DataCentre UK.

The project involves the delivery of two new modular data centres to support SWFT’s sustainability objectives, enhance resilience and improve operations for Innovate Healthcare Services, which is the digital division of SWFT.

This investment equips the health service provider with a high-performing and scalable infrastructure designed to reduce energy consumption and support future digital health initiatives.

Enhancing digital infrastructure for healthcare

The installation is built on Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Data Centre solutions.

This platform integrates modular cooling systems, high-efficiency racks, power distribution units and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

The result is a system that lowers energy use while providing the capacity for growth across a range of digital health services.

Innovate Healthcare Services, a joint venture established under SWFT, requires greater capacity to manage increasing digital demands from the healthcare sector.

Its existing infrastructure experiences efficiency challenges and has a restricted ability to scale.

The investment in external modular data centres allows SWFT to meet its operational and technological needs with improved reliability.

DataCentre UK was responsible for the design and delivery of the solution, choosing Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure platform to meet the specific requirements of healthcare-grade infrastructure.

Paul Almond, Managing Director at DataCentre UK, says: “As an EcoXpert Partner to Schneider Electric, we have integrated Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Data Centre Solutions into the design.

"These solutions are pre-engineered, configurable and scalable encompassing racks, power, cooling and management systems, aimed at maximising resiliency, sustainability and efficiency.

"Innovate and SWFT trusted our design and our selection of products and approved us to proceed with the build-out.”

The modular design of the data centres facilitates quicker deployment that helps ensure service continuity and minimal disruption.

Housed externally, the facilities offer greater operational flexibility and lower the risk of physical constraints or overheating issues associated with SWFT's previous server rooms.

Sustainable operations and energy reduction

The new infrastructure makes a direct contribution to SWFT’s Green Plan by reducing the energy consumption of its data centres.

The project is reported to achieve a 60% reduction in electricity usage when measured against SWFT’s former server room operations while handling the same amount of IT workload.

The Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is projected at an annualised rate of 1.2, a figure that is considerably lower than the average for many legacy data facilities.

Proactive monitoring and operational oversight help to maintain this efficiency year-round.

Mike Conlon, Associate Director of Technology Services at Innovate Healthcare Services, says: “It was all built around sustainability.

“Conservatively, we are now using 60% less electricity on the same amount of IT load, based on the previous server room implementation and the system has been designed with an expected annualised PUE of 1.2.”

The project’s reliability is further supported by a 365-day maintenance and service contract delivered by DataCentre UK in partnership with Schneider Electric.

Future-ready digital health services

This infrastructure investment strengthens SWFT’s digital services, creating a platform that meets both current healthcare delivery demands and future digital innovations.

The modular data centres are set to support a broad spectrum of applications, from electronic medical records and imaging to the hosting of clinical systems and remote care services.

The reliability of such systems is critical in the healthcare sector, where uptime and efficiency can have a direct bearing on patient outcomes.

Karlton Gray, Director, Channels, UK & Ireland at Schneider Electric, says: “With data centres underpinning critical healthcare services, it’s essential that infrastructure delivers the highest levels of reliability, scalability and sustainability.

"Our solutions have helped Innovate significantly improve their environmental footprint while maintaining exceptional operational performance and delivered a healthcare environment built for the future.”