NHS to deploy Riak as new IT backbone
Basho’s Riak distributed database supports development of Spine2 to improve performance and patient care
Basho has today announced that it is working with the NHS to develop the new Spine2 database, which is supported by Basho’s distributed database, Riak.
The NHS set tough goals to drive efficiency and care improvements through the innovative use of technology and over the past two years has been focusing efforts on revamping the NHS’ Spine1 database, a critical UK healthcare system.
At its peak, Spine1 was managed by more than 2,000 staff and was supported by 1,000 servers. The NHS decided to radically rethink the Spine computer by starting small and staying small, while at the same time improving the performance and reliability of the system along with its support of the care process.
The NHS chose Basho’s Riak as the backbone of the new Spine2 project to develop a more flexible and resilient solution. With Riak, developers will be able to make changes to Spine2 without needing burdensome and expensive systems integrators. This will dramatically cut down the time taken to implement new features and positively impacting patient care.
As medical information becomes digital, government health organisations need IT capabilities that provide uninterrupted, reliable access to critical, life-saving information
Inspired by the Danish Health Authority, which has already set up an agile, national record system based on the Riak database, the Spine2 project is currently in the last phases of testing and is due to go live in early 2014.
“In the healthcare industry, keeping costs low and simultaneously improving the level of care are critical requirements," said Greg Collins, chief executive at Basho Technologies.
"As medical information becomes digital, government health organisations need IT capabilities that provide uninterrupted, reliable access to critical, life-saving information. Riak’s built-in resiliency and predictable scalability are two important features that directly benefit the NHS and the citizens of the UK. Basho is very excited to be working with the NHS on such a revolutionary, world-leading project."
