sponsored by HEALTH SECTOR NEWS
Research highlights Trust approaches to sustainability
A research report released on 23 May by Centrica Business Solutions based on online questioning of representatives from over 120 health and medical providers identifies how they are pursuing the ‘twin goals’ of energy cost efficiency and decarbonisation.
The findings were clear, said Centrica Business Solutions: “There’s no time to lose in taking action, and to deliver on the NHS’s targets, a carefully costed and sustainable energy strategy is the answer.” The integrated energy solutions specialist says the findings – detailed in Balancing cost and carbon goals in the NHS: How can NHS trusts find a cost-effective path to Net Zero? – indicate that achieving a strong financial performance will be key for health providers in the next three years – 50% of respondents said this was their main priority. Centrica Business Solutions said: “Central to this is securing resilient, affordable energy. Volatile prices, exacerbated by wider economic disruption, can seriously affect any NHS Trust’s short- and long-term budget, and could impact its wider goals too – like sustainability. As Net Zero deadlines approach, this is unfeasible for those aiming to deliver on their promises.”
The research revealed that 31% of healthcare providers ‘believe energy is just a cost of doing business’, and that ‘rather than prioritising sustainable supply, they are mainly seeking best value’, perhaps indicating that when developing their energy strategy, some Trusts are struggling to highlight wider benefits. Centrica Business Solutions said: “However, carbon and cost reduction are linked. With the right solutions, many NHS Trusts could lower both, but will need to transform their energy strategy. Our report lays out how NHS Trusts can start their Net Zero journey – at a price that works for them.”
To learn more, visit the Centrica Business Solutions website at
https://tinyurl.com/2ystyyar
Raising awareness of human- centric lighting’s importance
Leading lighting company, Glamox, is embarking on a tour of European cities to raise awareness with lighting designers, consultants, and architects, of the benefits of human- centric lighting (HCL) inside professional buildings. The tour, which takes in 10 cities, began in Tallinn, Estonia, on 3 May, ends at the German Football Museum in Dortmund on 26 October, and will feature experts and guest speakers including Dr. Shelley James (pictured), an ‘internationally renowned expert’ on light and well-being, WELL adviser, and TEDx speaker. Glamox said: “Human-centric lighting, in the form of tuneable luminaires, controlled by a computer/ tablet-based light management system or control panel, enables the right lumen level and light spectrum to be delivered
during the day to best suit people’s circadian rhythms. It can help hospital patients sleep better and recover faster, shift workers combat fatigue, and school pupils improve their concentration.” Nina Hol, Chief
Marketing & Communications officer for Glamox, said: “We want to
lift the lid on the vast potential of our Human-Centric Lighting to improve health, well-being, and productivity. This tour is designed to open the possibilities for lighting professionals and end-users to really get to grips with human-centric lighting, and receive guidance from experts on what can be done and how best to do it. As Scandinavians, we understand the psychological and physiological application of light better than most.”
NHS SBS launches £1.7bn decontamination procurement framework
NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) has unveiled a new, free-to-access £1.7 bn framework agreement designed to support NHS hospitals and theatres manage sterilisation,
decontamination, and repair of surgical
equipment efficiently, and meet clinical demand. The Decontamination Services and Solutions procurement framework offers ‘end-to-end decontamination solutions’ at a time when the construction and roll-out of surgical hubs is being scaled up to increase capacity and ease pressure on elective surgery.
NHS SBS said: “Surgical and clinical teams rely on quick, efficient turnaround of reprocessed and sterilised instruments to operate and undertake procedures. As part of this, effective decontamination of surgical instruments and equipment is essential
16 Health Estate Journal June 2023
both for patient safety, and to avoiding delays and inefficiencies in hospital operating theatres. As Trusts constantly evolve and innovate to improve patient care and outcomes, that too comes at a cost. For instance, the increase in robotic surgery provision has created a need for specialist decontamination services to manage the reprocessing of highly delicate instruments.” NHS SBS’s framework agreement
covers the provision of outsourced decontamination and sterilisation of surgical instruments on or off site, and involves the cleaning, reprocessing, repair, and sterilisation, of such instruments.
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