How Healthcare Organisations Are Doing More with Less Through Cloud Strategy

This is the third and final article in our series (Part 1 & Part 2) on how cloud technology can help shape the future of the NHS. So far, we’ve explored its role in driving transformation, strengthening security and building resilience. Now, we turn to a critical challenge: how NHS trusts can do more with less. We believe the answer lies in strategic investment in cloud solutions. As demand on healthcare systems grows, trusts are under mounting pressure to deliver better care with fewer resources. Budget constraints, staffing shortages and ageing infrastructure make it essential to find smarter, more efficient ways of working. A well-planned, end-to-end approach to cloud transformation is helping NHS organisations do exactly that.

Cloud as a catalyst for efficiency and innovation

Cloud adoption is no longer just about modernising infrastructure. For healthcare leaders, it's become a tool for unlocking operational efficiency, freeing up capital for frontline services and accelerating innovation. Nigel Tazzyman, Deputy Director of ICT at Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust, highlights the results of this shift. “We’ve reduced costs between 15 and 18 percent just through optimisation,” he said.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust’s cloud journey

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust was operating within the tight limits of its legacy infrastructure and facing challenges with capacity, scalability and cost. Every system change required significant investment, which slowed innovation and limited flexibility. To overcome these constraints, the trust partnered with us to implement a multicloud environment built on Rackspace Private Cloud, Microsoft® Azure® and Rackspace Healthcare Cloud. The new platform gave CNWL the agility to modernise quickly, roll out digital tools like mobile audits and QR-coded medication tracking, and redirect resources toward patient-facing services.

Avoiding the cost traps of piecemeal migration

Cloud transformation is often seen as a path to greater efficiency, but without a clear strategy, it can introduce new costs and complexities. A fragmented approach to migration can result in overestimated licensing, underutilised infrastructure and unexpected data egress charges. Public cloud platforms offer powerful capabilities, but without proper workload alignment, their pricing models and service options can strain your budget.

To avoid these pitfalls, your organisation needs a clear cloud migration strategy — one that places each workload in the right environment, whether public, private or hybrid. When matched appropriately for performance, security and cost, this kind of planning helps reduce your data centre footprint, streamline operations and shift from capital expenditure to a more predictable, sustainable model.

Aligning cloud strategy with financial realities

NHS trusts often operate within financial models that limit flexibility and make cloud investment decisions more complex. That’s why it's important to work with partners who understand both the operational and funding constraints unique to the sector. Rackspace Technology collaborates with trusts to design transformation strategies that fit these realities — helping avoid costly missteps and reduce complexity through advisory support, simplified vendor relationships and a choice of financial models. Cloud services can be structured to match your trust’s financial model — whether that means traditional capex, public cloud–style opex or a hybrid of the two. This alignment fosters predictability and control as you modernise.

Freeing up internal IT teams to focus on innovation

When infrastructure management is offloaded to a trusted partner, IT leaders gain more than cost control — they also free up their teams to focus on innovation. In fact, 75% of CIOs report that day-to-day operational demands are holding them back from driving strategic change. By reducing this burden, healthcare organisations can redirect time, expertise and resources to initiatives that improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

Every pound saved counts

With NHS spending projected to rise to £200 billion by 2026, every efficiency gained is a critical advantage. A modern cloud strategy doesn’t just cut costs — it lays the foundation for smarter care, stronger security and sustainable innovation.

Find out how we can address your healthcare technology challenges and find solutions that generate results here.