the contents page - The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust

Estates & FacilitiesClick here to return tothe contents pageDoug RoutledgeGoingGreenMaking sure a sprawling 65-acre site with somebuildings dating back a hundred years, is workingefficiently is no easy task, so to reduce the carbonfootprint of the site presents a major challenge.However, the staff in Estates and Facilities are rising tothe challenge and working on ways to conserve energy useand to raise awareness among staffof the important role they can play inreducing energy consumption.Long term plans for the site to bedeveloped, which are now underway, will help in improving theenvironmental impact of the hospital,by demolishing many of the older,inefficient buildings and creating new,modern, environmentally friendlyones.But in the mean time, the Estates andFacilities team work hard across thesite, firstly to ensure all services suchas gas, water, heating and power aremaintained and in good working order,but secondly to improve our efficiencylevels.Initiatives such as replacing ageinggas boilers and installing intelligentlighting which switches off when thereis no-one in the room, is helping toensure the site is more energy efficient.Staff can also do their bit by reportingsimple things like dripping taps.New Cross Hospital used 250,000cubic metres of water in 2007/08 andcost the Trust £342,000. Since April2008, the Engineering Departmenthas been running a ‘behind the scenesproject’ to reduce water consumptionon site – a project that not only savesthe Trust money, but importantly helpsthe environment too.Josh RamseyNew CrossHospital used250,000 cubicmetres of water in2007/08 and costthe Trust £342,000So far the site has seen a reduction in water consumption of17,257 cubic metres between April and September this year,compared with last year but every member of staff can stilltake simple steps to reduce water consumption further:While reducing the carbon footprint and running the sitebehind the scenes, the hospital tradesmen who work for theestates department, also have a vitalrole to play in infection prevention andpatient safety.Working as an almost invisibleworkforce, they have a lead rolein ward refurbishments, installingelectrics, painting and decorating,carpentry and carrying out buildingworks.All of this is carried out, whereverpossible, over weekends and nights, toavoid disruption to hospital services.But while moving from ward to ward,carrying out repairs, the staff arealways mindful of not spreading germsand infections, as they are probablythe staff who move the most acrossthe site.They also incorporate infectionprevention issues into their work,for example, ensuring all wires andelectrics are flushed flat into walls,rather than creating another raisedsurface which needs cleaning. Theyalso ensure the tool boxes they carryaround the site are easily cleanable.The new development will helpcontinue the skilled work alreadycarried out by the estates teamin reducing the carbon footprint,and will take it one step further byincorporating a Sustainability Strategyand a Green Travel Plan.The Estates and Facilities Mechanics teamDave BatemanGeoff RobertsSue BakerDave Foley and Neil Arrowsmith