​The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) is set to benefit from a £16.2 million investment aimed at introducing energy-saving measures. This is part of a nationwide drive towards carbon neutrality. The funding, secured through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), will be used to install solar panels, heat pumps, and other energy-efficient systems.

These upgrades are expected to significantly cut energy costs and carbon emissions at the hospital. The trust estimates annual savings of around £1 million in energy expenses and a reduction of over 3,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. This aligns with the NHS's overarching target to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, promoting more sustainable healthcare practices.

This project will incorporate heat-pump technology, which will deliver hot and cold water and low-carbon heating across the hospital site. Additional improvements include installing solar panels, upgrading pipe and roof insulation, and deploying low-energy fans, all designed to lower the hospital's overall energy consumption.

Beyond the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, the trust is also planning to implement similar energy-saving measures at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital (PRH). Future upgrades at PRH will include solar panels and LED lighting, contingent on securing further funding.

These energy-efficient improvements are part of a broader transformation programme currently underway at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. This programme includes a major four-storey expansion at the old main entrance, which will feature new facilities such as an acute medical floor, a women and children's ward, and an intensive care unit. As part of this transformation, the Princess Royal Hospital is set to lose its full A&E department, with the primary emergency centre moving to Shrewsbury.

This comprehensive approach is expected to modernise the facilities while significantly reducing the hospital's environmental footprint.