Oxford hospitals take major leap towards net zero targets thanks to government funding

Salix team visits site to put challenges under the spotlight and discuss ambitions

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) has taken a giant step forward to meeting its Green Plan objectives thanks to funding under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

The net zero works at John Radcliffe Hospital, home to Oxfordshire's main A&E site and acute hospital services, are aimed at making the hospital more energy efficient as well as providing a better environment for patients.

A total of £24.1m was awarded to the John Radcliffe and £5.7m to Horton General under Phase 3b of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme which is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to support the aim of reducing emissions from public sector buildings. 

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) contributed £8.2m towards the wider scheme, taking the total expenditure to £38m over a three-year period.

As part of our work delivering the scheme, we regularly visit projects across the country to talk to the teams dedicated to reaching ambitious net zero targets.

Our director of public sector decarbonisation Ian Rodger and programme coordinator Justin Morris joined hospital officials and engineers to see how the John Radcliffe Hospital is finding work one year after celebrating its award of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant. 

Justin said: “It’s so important to see for ourselves how the works are progressing and to listen to the hospital team about the impact the technologies are making.

“The John Radcliffe and Horton hospitals are complex sites and there are many sensitivities that have to be considered and resolved in order to complete the work without interrupting patient care. 

“The project team has both the skills and experience to face these challenges and deliver the project.”

OUH is one of the UK’s largest acute teaching NHS Trusts. It works in close partnership with the University of Oxford, and is a leading centre for cancer, neurosciences, diabetes and genetics - among other fields.

During the visit, our team got to tour the site and look at the new energy efficiency technologies including the solar PV panels, air-handling units, building management systems, heat plate exchangers, the new low-temperature-hot-water pipework distribution system and cascading air-to-water heat pumps. 

The John Radcliffe Hospital project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, and involves the John Radcliffe and Horton hospitals being 'de-steamed', with the existing steam network decommissioned and replaced with new, cleaner, and more efficient pipework. The pipework is heated by substituting gas boilers with low carbon electric heat pumps and additional energy efficiency measures.

In addition to significantly improving the efficiency through heat pumps, the new system also reduces carbon emissions and carbon footprint, water consumption, water treatment costs, operational and maintenance costs and avoids a maintenance backlog.

Solar panels, more efficient pipework insulation, and draught proofing, have also been installed to improve energy efficiency.

Jeenash Mistry, head of OUH’s facilities and estates operations, said: “The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme has been fundamental to improving the John Radcliffe and Horton hospitals for our patients, staff, and visitors.

“The modernisation of the building’s heating and hot water infrastructure  will improve our energy efficiency by adapting a range of low carbon technologies and support our journey towards the national target for a net zero NHS carbon footprint by 2040.”