POWERING THE DIVIDE: BRIDGING NEW-BUILD EXCELLENCE AND LEGACY-ESTATE RESILIENCE
As the NHS embraces digitally enabled smart hospitals, many healthcare organisations are also managing ageing buildings, restricted budgets and electrical infrastructure that was never designed for today’s clinical demands.
This reflects the Healthcare Estates 2026 theme, “Mind the Gap: Are We Heading for a Two-Tier Estate?” New hospitals can integrate resilient power systems from the design stage, while older facilities must support increasingly sophisticated technology using infrastructure that may already be approaching its limits.
However,
require complete replacement. assessment,
strengthening resilience does not always Through careful
risk-based prioritisation and phased
investment, healthcare estates can apply new-build principles to legacy environments.
RESILIENCE BASED ON CLINICAL RISK Reliable power is essential to the safe operation of diagnostic equipment, operating theatres, critical IT systems, communications and other vital services.
Uninterruptible power supply systems maintain power during an outage and support the transition to an alternative source. In healthcare environments, however, a standard commercial UPS may not be suitable. The complete solution must reflect the application, clinical risk and relevant requirements of HTM 06-01, including battery arrangements, protection, interfaces and monitoring.
isolation, system
While new developments can incorporate capacity, redundancy and maintainability from the outset, upgrading a live hospital is more complex. Limited plant space, ageing equipment and restricted shutdown windows must all be managed without disrupting patient care.
A PRACTICAL PATHWAY FOR LEGACY ESTATES A detailed assessment can identify weaknesses within the existing infrastructure by examining UPS condition and capacity, battery health, load profiles, redundancy, maintenance history and component availability. Estates teams can then prioritise improvements according to clinical and operational risk. Immediate vulnerabilities can be addressed first, while other
upgrades can be phased alongside maintenance,
refurbishment projects.
Flexibility should also be central to future specifications. Modular UPS systems can allow capacity to grow with demand, while suitable redundancy helps maintain availability during servicing or equipment failure. Monitoring provides greater visibility of system condition and performance, helping teams identify developing issues before they become critical.
The UPS must also be considered as part of the wider electrical infrastructure. Generators, batteries, switchgear, protection systems, communications and operating procedures must work together to provide coordinated resilience.
CLOSING THE GAP The divide between new and legacy healthcare estates cannot be resolved through a single capital programme. It can, however, be reduced through informed planning and targeted investment.
With more than 30 years of healthcare experience, Power Control provides HTM 06-01-informed UPS solutions, maintenance and technical support for new-build and existing facilities. From surveys and system design to installation, commissioning and lifecycle maintenance, its specialists help healthcare organisations protect essential services while preparing for future demands.
T: 01246 431431 E:
pwc-sales.support@
legrand.com W:
powercontrol.co.uk
planned departmental improvements or
Visit us at Healthcare Estates 2026
STAND E7
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