Executive summary

Cloud computing has brought about a step-change in the economics and sustainability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enabled service provisions. The UK government is committed to the adoption of cloud computing in the public and private sectors and delivering computing resources to users as needed (as an on-demand delivery model) and by introducing, in 2013, the UK Government cloud-first policy which directs public sector organisations to consider public cloud first before alternatives. 

The UK Government's Digital by Default Agenda puts ICT at the heart of public services and the implementation of cloud computing and on-demand delivery models is central to meeting these challenges. The NHS and supporting healthcare ICT infrastructure has grown over several decades to meet the needs of its patients and workforce which have resulted in increasingly costly infrastructure proliferation, which has hindered the NHS’s ability to modernise and fully exploit recent ICT developments and keep up with expectations of our workforce, citizens and patients.

The current NHS ICT estate of mostly on-premise infrastructure makes it difficult to:

• achieve large, cross economies of scale with regards to hosting and licensing agreements

• deliver ICT systems that are flexible and responsive to demand in order to support the NHS and healthcare policies and strategies all year round and during times of increased unforeseen demand

• take advantage of new technologies in order to deliver faster business, workforce and patient benefits and reduce initial upfront investment costs and ongoing operational burden

• meet environmental and sustainability targets and

• procure in a way that encourages a dynamic and responsive supplier marketplace and supports emerging suppliers

The UK government encourages cloud adoption, recognising its benefits for efficiency and sustainability. However, the NHS's existing on-premise infrastructure hinders modernisation and scalability.

The NHS Cloud strategy aims to:

• Modernise ICT: Transition to cloud services, improving flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability
• Enable innovation: Leverage cloud technologies for new services and improved patient care
• Build a strong foundation: Establish a robust cloud framework with clear policies and a skilled workforce

Key elements include:

• Cloud Centres of Excellence: Within each organisation, these centres will bring together diverse expertise to drive successful cloud adoption
• Central support: An NHS England Cloud Centre of Excellence will provide guidance, training, and support to organisations throughout their cloud journey

By embracing cloud computing, the NHS can improve service delivery, enhance patient care, and achieve its strategic goals.