King George Hospital car park could get solar roof

Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust says it has saved around £175,000 a year through its growing list of “green” initiatives under a three-year environmental plan launched last October.

Much of the savings have come from solar panels installed across four blocks at King George Hospital, which now generate 10 to 15 per cent of the site’s electricity needs.

Waseem Ishaq, the trust’s sustainability and carbon manager, said that by next March, panels will also be installed on two further blocks.

A before and after of the new LED lights (Image: BHRUT)

A third phase will focus on a “solar car port” scheme.

Mr Ishaq said: "It's quite innovative and would mean building a roof over the car park and installing solar panels on it.

"It's a major project which would help us save around £225k a year. We hope to have it completed by March 2029.

"We also want to introduce solar panels at Queen’s Hospital by 2029 – it takes a little longer as we don’t own the building. Panels are a quick win with lots of benefits, so are absolutely worth it."

LED lighting has been another area of progress, with King George Hospital now at 90 per cent LED coverage.

A recent upgrade of fittings in its Renal and Juniper wards is expected to save £17,000 annually.

Other future goals include full LED lighting at King George and final upgrades for the remaining 20 per cent of lighting at Queen’s.

The trust will soon pilot its Gloves Off campaign in A&E and intensive care units, which aims to cut down on unnecessary use of examination gloves.

Ruth Green, clinical group director of nursing for acute and emergency medicine, said: "The aim of the Gloves Off campaign is to improve safety, sustainability and the quality of care for our patients, and shows how the simplest changes can deliver big gains."

The trust is also moving towards reduced paper use through electronic patient record and working with catering partners to cut food waste by 30 per cent.