JOINT IHEEM NI AND ROI 2022 CONFERENCE
A key priority at the new ASB was ‘giving patients control over their own environment’.
schemes nearing completion, to bring in additional bed capacity as a contingency measure, should that be needed. Fortunately it wasn’t, but it wasn’t money wasted; it’s an investment that has a legacy value, and I think the flexibility afforded in the design demonstrated that it was capable of taking on an entirely different function to that which had been originally envisaged.” In an analogy to another, altogether different, sector, Brendan Smyth added: “It seems that every five or six years there’s a change in model of car, and a new emphasis that drives the change.” Brendan Smyth recalled – ‘in terms of
sustainability’ – that another speaker had discussed ‘embedding these things from the very start’, which he believed was ‘absolutely right’. He said: “The feasibility studies for the projects I’ve described were carried out for a zero-carbon approach at concept design stage very early on, with lighting designs completed both internally and externally to try to balance externally the need for a safe environment, but not to needlessly consume energy. We also installed plant with the aim of reducing nitrous oxide emissions.” He added: “Interestingly, in terms of photovoltaics, typically we didn’t install them in the first construction phase, but left the infrastructure there, so they could be readily fitted. Then – as the Department of Health released ‘Invest to Save’ money, practically every square metre of roof on the hospital side was covered with photovoltaics – which are making a really significant contribution to the energy generation on site.”
A ‘clean air environment’ The speaker explained here that he had ‘borrowed’ from Sonia Roschnik, International Climate Policy Director at Health Care Without Harm, the different elements that should be considered on a hospital site ‘in terms of clean air environment’. He said: “In fact, when I
26 Health Estate Journal October 2022
looked at it, I found that – without really realising it – all of these issues had been addressed in the redevelopment of the site.” He went on to explain – touching first on air quality – that it was ‘about giving patients control over their own environment’, and thermal zoning throughout the building reflecting the orientation. He said: “In terms of water usage, the demand for potable water is reduced by efficient sanitary facilities, water metering on the mains, and sub- metering to all site areas – to identify higher areas of usage, as well as leak detection systems, so that any leaks are identified quickly and dealt with. In fact, there had been an aquifer identified on the site, which we managed to tap into, and the hospital now uses a ‘blended’ system, with water supplied both from the ring main, and from the aquifer, making a really significant contribution to reduction in mains water usage.”
Fewer skips during construction On the actual construction phase, Brendan Smyth said he was ‘amazed’ how few skips there now were on a construction site, with contractors having ‘really bought into’ the minimal waste material to landfill model. He said: “They don’t want to see anything going to landfill now – a remarkable change in the last 10 years – separation and selection of waste.” He also noted the ‘fantastic lighting scheme’ on the Acute Services block – a wireless Bluetooth- type system, with the lights integrated into a network, which offered complete flexibility, and the ability to create a range of different ‘mood environments’. He said: “You don’t have to worry about wiring, and the system really is an example of technology helping with running costs and future flexibility.”
Sustainable transport Another success on the Ulster Hospital site had been sustainable transport –
An en-suite bathroom.
initiatives on the campus over the last 10 years had included secure cycle storage, with changing facilities for those cycling to work, well-planned delivery and access to the front of the hospital, which also ensures safety and minimises disruption, and ‘just-in-time deliveries’ – managed by the Trust’s Procurement Department. Brendan Smyth explained that buses now came right up into the front of the site, giving ‘real connectivity in terms of all that sustainable transport’, while the Trust’s Transport team was in the process of changing its fleet, prioritising electrical vehicles. A new ‘in-house’ laundry on site would further reduce deliveries in, while Northern Ireland’s Department of Health had had a ‘big push’ at one point for a small number of central laundries. The speaker said: “This is an area of significant social deprivation, with a lot of low paid workers depending on work in the laundry. So not only does it – carbon footprint- wise – reduce transportation, but it also raises sustainability to that community in terms of employment opportunity, and income generation opportunities for the Trust.” Here Brendan Smyth showed a slide
from the NHS Carbon Pathway. He said: “At the very top, you’ll see that over the last few decades, there’s been very little progress towards reducing carbon, with minimal reduction.” He continued: “Keep doing what we’re doing, and emissions will increase in line with our rising demand for health services. The purple areas at the top of this slide reflect the national elements around the decarbonisation of the grid, and the national carbon reductions affecting the NHS supply chain. If we can implement these changes it will result in quite a significant reduction.”
Care models’ impact The green areas on the slide, he explained, represented the care models; there was currently considerable discussion about
Courtesy of Donal McCann Photography / Avanti Architects
Courtesy of Donal McCann Photography / Avanti Architects
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