Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, met NHS apprentices from Trafford General Hospital to celebrate a £20 million investment scheme to replace a fossil-fuel heating system with cutting-edge green technology.
The pioneering scheme will mean that Trafford, the birthplace of the NHS, will become the first inpatient hospital in the country to have a carbon-zero heating system replace an existing traditional system, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions linked to energy use by up to 92%.
As well as meeting the estates and facilities apprentices, the Mayor discussed the project with Kathy Cowell, Chair of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, and Jonathan Kershaw, Managing Director of construction partners Dalkia Energy Services.
The Mayor joined the apprentices and other estates and facilities staff to visit the hospital’s existing boiler room, which currently still hosts the old equipment ahead of the redevelopment work. The Mayor heard about the environmental and financial benefits which the investment will deliver by creating a permanent zero-carbon system as part of a wider commitment to reduce the Trust’s carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency across its estate.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership co-chair said:
“This is a fantastic scheme not just for Trafford General Hospital, but for the NHS in Greater Manchester. The technology being used here has the potential to benefit hospitals across our region and beyond.
“I’m sure that Nye Bevan would have been very proud to see that the hospital where he chose to launch the NHS is now at the forefront of our efforts to tackle climate change.”
Kathy Cowell, Chair of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Trafford General Hospital holds a special place in our history as the birthplace of the NHS and today was all about investing in its future, and our future generations. By backing clean energy, we are not only protecting the environment and tackling the health issues caused by carbon emissions, but we are also making sure that we are delivering the best possible value for money for our patients and communities.”
Jonathan Kershaw, Managing Director of Dalkia Energy Services, said:
“We are delighted to be working with the Trust on this transformative project. Our team is committed to delivering innovative carbon reduction solutions that support the NHS’s sustainability goals and improve the working environment for staff and the experience for patients.”
The decarbonisation programme at Trafford General Hospital is supported by funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.