Hospital awarded £6.5m for solar power scheme

Hospital bosses said the scheme would save taxpayers' money by reducing energy bills

Chesterfield Royal Hospital has been awarded £6.5m of government money to invest in green energy schemes.

The NHS trust that runs the hospital said the money would be used to install solar panels and associated battery storage.

Hospital bosses said the project would reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions.

Steve Heppinstall, director of finance at the trust, said: "I am delighted to have received this investment, which will support us in reducing our carbon footprint and save us money which can be put back into patient care."

The grant has come from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero as part of a £100m fund to be shared between 78 NHS trusts.