Boosting capacity and helping to keep the lights on

Hospitals across the UK are increasingly reliant on sophisticated electrical systems and diagnostic equipment in the daily treatment of patients, but such equipment is itself reliant on a secure and stable power network to deliver 24/7 operation. Whether it be in the the A&E Department, an operating theatre, wards, or service areas including — for example — the kitchens, ensuring a stable and reliable electrical supply is key to maintaining uninterrupted healthcare and support services.

While overall energy consumption across the NHS England estate fell by 1.65% in 2023 over the previous year,1
a calculated 11.2 billion kWh of power was still consumed. Energy costs have also significantly increased in recent years, putting additional strain on the balance sheet. The total cost of running the NHS England estate last year was calculated at £12.4 bn, an increase of 12% since 2021/22, and the expectation is that this will only continue to rise, with increasing energy use, and the need for repairs to the fabric of the buildings, both significant factors.

The NHS estate contains many old and increasingly dilapidated buildings. In 2022/23 it was reported that 42% of the estate had been built before 1985, with 14% pre-dating the NHS itself. Although the age of some of these buildings is not necessarily a problem, many NHS Estates & Facilities teams are being put under pressure by other factors. Among the key ones are reductions in staffing levels, a growing maintenance backlog, and historical under-investment in infrastructure. Implementing upgrades to High Voltage (HV) and Low Voltage (LV) switchgear systems and local sub-stations, along with the associated data, communication, monitoring, and alarm systems — which in some cases have exceeded their safe operational life expectancy — requires specialist knowledge, which is why, with over 100 years of heritage, Quartzelec is increasingly being contracted to deliver cost-effective solutions.