|
||||
|
Citrix XenApp & AppSense Case StudyKent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust |
 |
|
Virtualised desktop environment expected to save Kent and Medway
£250k annually "Desktop
virtualisation is the next step in a series of exciting
developments and will give our health and social care
professionals the flexibility they need to deliver high quality
services in a continuously changing and challenging environment.”
|
|
| Features: Citrix XenApp, Citrix XenServer & AppSense | |
Summary
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) is always looking for ways to improve the service it provides to the 1.6 million people across Kent and Medway – this time by virtualising its application delivery platform.
About the Customer
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust was formed on 1 April 2006 after East Kent NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust and West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust merged. The Trust provides a full range of mental health and other services to 1.6 million people across Kent and Medway. In addition, the Trust operates a county-wide forensic psychiatry service. KMPT is a large NHS Trust, employing approximately 4,200 staff, and operating from over 260 sites across Kent and Medway.
|
“ The project is driven by a broad range of benefits that come from more capable and more flexible IT systems. " |
|
Les Manley, Director of Information and IT at Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust |
The Challenge
The Trust’s main focus is on the provision of mental health services, but also provides a range of smaller specialist services. The Trust employs 4,000 staff, 300 of which are social care staff seconded from local authorities.
With 3,000 computers distributed across more than 100 sites, keeping up with increasing demands on network capacity without incurring significant additional cost is a particular challenge.
The Centralis Solution
KMPT has chosen a thin client strategy (in place of upgrading its various networks) as a more cost-efficient solution. Independent IT consultancy Centralis was tasked with designing and building a proof of concept based on Citrix’s XenApp and AppSense to centralise desktop delivery to staff.
“The objectives of this project were not driven by cost savings although significant cost savings will be realised and future costs will be avoided,” said Les Manley, Director of Information and IT for KMPT.
|
" The objectives of this project were not driven by cost savings although significant cost savings will be realised and future costs will be avoided. " |
|
Les Manley, Director of Information and IT at Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust |
The
Benefits to the Customer
“The project is driven by a broad range of benefits that come from more capable and more flexible IT systems. Mental health services have changed beyond recognition over recent years and our technology has been in full flight to keep pace with service developments.
Desktop virtualisation is the next step in a series of exciting developments and will give our health and social care professionals the flexibility they need to deliver high quality services in a continuously changing and challenging environment.”
The first stage will see 250 mobile workers and 750 users at locations with smaller network connections going live in early 2010, with the potential to scale up across the board later in the year.
The project is expected to save KMPT in the region of £250,000 a year based on an initial investment of £650,000.
“This innovative approach means patients no longer have to worry that their data is being held on a laptop that could be stolen or lost,” said Ewen Anderson, managing director of Centralis.
“This is a great example of a forward-thinking customer, using proven information technology, to benefit both users and patients, while also making operational savings – all of which is now feasible with the centralised desktop platform.”
News coverage:
http://www.smarthealthcare.com/kent-medway-partnership-thin-client-manley-28jan10
http://msn.computeractive.co.uk/crn/news/2257275/centralis-slims-kmpt
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/5592/kent_and_medway_virtualises_desktops
http://www.sns-uk.co.uk/news/news-full.php?newsid=14074