Staff at the Royal United Hospital in Bath are celebrating winning two national awards for their work in sustainable projects that help to save energy and money.
The RUH Estates and Facilities Sustainability team were named double winners at the NHS Sustainability Awards, which showcase action and innovation in creating a more sustainable NHS.
They won in two categories. The first, Staff Engagement – for providing staff with the opportunity to take behind the scenes tours of seven different types of plant room across the site.
The tours demonstrated the ways in which the Estates team are making the site more efficient and sustainable. The well-received tours showcased the Trust’s generators which not only power the hospital but are also used to back up the National Grid, generating around £140,000 a year for the Trust.
The second, Infrastructure, celebrated the innovative design and build of the new Spiritual Care Centre at the RUH.
That project, part of the RUH Fit for the Future redevelopment plan, made use of natural light, efficient heating, insulation and energy monitoring systems.
RUH Director of Estates and Facilities Brian Johnson said: “Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved, it’s projects like these that help us to be a sustainable organisation that’s fit for the future and these awards highlight the hard work, dedication and continued innovation from our teams.”
RUH Head of Sustainability Hayley Williams said: “I’m delighted that we won two out of the four awards we were shortlisted for.
“I’m especially pleased about winning the staff engagement category as the plant room tours idea came from a member of staff in the Estates department.
“He’s delighted that not only was his idea taken forward and acted on but now it has won an award.
“It’s great to get recognition for the work we do and to share with staff what improving sustainability in a hospital involves and why it’s so important.
“It’s more than recycling bins and bike sheds, we generate, support and embrace innovative ideas that lead to a green and sustainable RUH.”
