£16.2m investment into green energy at hospital

The measures will include solar panels and low-energy fan systems

Energy-saving measures, including solar panels and heat pumps, are to be introduced at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital as part of a £16.2m investment.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), secured funding for the measures through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

The trust said the investment could save an estimated £1m each year in energy costs, and reduce the hospital's emissions by more than 3,000 tonnes of carbon each year.

Nationally, the NHS aims to reach net zero by 2040.

"This aligns with our vision of sustainable health services and more modern facilities that will improve the experience of our patients and colleagues," said Inese Robotham, from the trust's climate group.

The project will see heat-pump technology installed, which would provide low-carbon heating, hot and cold water to the hospital site.

Solar panels, upgrades to roof and pipe insulation, and the installation of low-energy fan systems would also help to reduce the site's energy consumption.

The trust also aims to install solar panels and LED lighting at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford once additional funding is secured.

The RSH is already undergoing extensive works as part of the hospitals transformation programme, which will eventually see the PRH lose its full A&E department, and Shrewsbury housing the main emergency centre.

The work currently underway is a four-storey expansion around the former main entrance, and will include a new women and children's ward, acute medical floor, and intensive care ward.