Hospitals can address rising energy costs, NHS budget pressures and the need for EV charging infrastructure with solar car parks. Reduce electricity bills and carbon emissions by generating your own renewable energy onsite.

As a designer, funder, installer and operator of solar car parks (SCPs), 3ti^® supports the NHS with solar energy from car parks. It is a low-cost, low-carbon and innovative way to supply buildings and EV charge points with clean solar power, enabling customers to generate their own renewable energy.

Advantages of solar car parks

Integrating local mains electricity with solar power, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and electric vehicle (EV) charge points can provide organisations with reliable, clean energy while offering low-carbon, fast EV charging.

We get businesses and vehicles ‘Driving on Sunshine^®‘ by deploying large-scale solar arrays in car parks, on wasteland and rooftops while growing an extensive, reliable EV charging network with our easy-to-install pop-up, mini solar car park, Papilio3^®.

A hospital with a car park of 250 spaces could
save up to £250,000 a year on energy costs.

EV charging access and cost savings

With around 50% of UK households unable to charge EVs at home, destination and workplace solar car parks are a cost-effective and accessible charging infrastructure solution. They contribute to achieving net zero emissions targets by 2050 and establish optimised EV charging infrastructure ahead of the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles.

Hospitals can save around £1,000 annually for every parking space covered with a solar array. A hospital with a car park of 250 spaces could save up to £250,000 a year on energy costs. The car park is already there — hospitals can secure cheaper electricity supply, reduce carbon emissions and provide EV charging infrastructure without any capital expenditure.

Hospitals adopting solar car parks

Eastbourne District General Hospital is the first hospital to install a solar car park with integrated EV charge points in the UK. As high energy users, the hospital will make significant cost and carbon savings by generating its own renewable electricity and reducing reliance on electricity from the national grid. It will produce 1,000MWh of solar-generated electricity annually and lower CO2 emissions by 222 tonnes in the first year.

Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, Scotland is the first hospital to install a Papilio3 pop-up solar car park and EV charging hub, providing hospital users with access to 12 charge points, boosted by renewable energy.

Solar car parks are a win-win: low-cost and low-carbon electricity for the hospital; car park users benefit from shelter and lighting provided by the canopies; staff with EVs can charge at work. These hospitals prove how simple it can be to transform car parks into renewable energy sources and ‘Leave Something Better Behind^®’ for future generations.

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Discover the pivotal link between planetary and human health. Learn how digitalised care can empower patients and safeguard our planet’s future.

Healthcare contributes 4.4% of global CO2 emissions. Maybe that doesn’t sound like much, says Chris Taylor, Sustainability Lead, Philips UK and Ireland — until you realise it means everything, from CT scans to anaesthesia, it’s creating a bigger carbon footprint than the likes of aviation (approximately 2%) and shipping (approximately 3%).

Healthcare emissions harming human health

If the healthcare sector were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter on the planet. There’s an intrinsic link between the growth of carbon emissions and deterioration in human health. “There are warnings about extreme heat in the summer and how increased temperatures enable the migration of pathogens,” explains Taylor. “Meanwhile, clean air studies show the negative impact that air pollution can have on human health.”

The World Health Organization predicts the climate crisis will lead to 250,000 additional deaths from conditions such as malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress between 2030 and 2050. So, everyone, from health and climate leaders to healthcare partners and clinicians, must create more sustainable patient pathways caring for both people and the planet.

A hospital will produce 2.5 times more
CO2 gases than commercial buildings.

How technology makes healthcare more sustainable

The most energy-intensive areas of health services include supply chains and hospital buildings. “A hospital will produce 2.5 times more CO2 gases than commercial buildings,” says Taylor. Our NHS is now challenged with using fewer raw materials, moving from capital purchases and embracing the circular economy.

Another universal concern is the carbon footprint caused by patient and clinician travel. “Digitalised — or connected — care is key,” adds Taylor. “With the latest technology, senior physicians can support junior staff remotely by using native digital systems while telehealth growth will see patients monitored and attended in their homes via wearable devices.

“Digital innovation delivering better patient outcomes by reducing travel and lowering carbon emissions is a win.” As AI becomes more commonly utilised and designed to support clinicians, opportunities to improve care will only increase.

Immediate action required for sustainability

For the UK to reach net zero targets, immediate action is necessary in healthcare to foster sustainability and empower patients. Collaboration among NHS stakeholders — including NHS Foundation Trusts, suppliers, associations and community groups — is vital for finding solutions and sharing best practices.

At Philips, we’re vocalising this need for sustainable change through our newly launched Care Means the World platform. “It’s in all our interests to work together to transform care models and lower carbon emissions, for a future that cares for people and the planet without compromise,” insists Taylor.

The post Using digital technology to improve patient health — and the planet’s health appeared first on Health Awareness.

Learn how digital healthcare can widen access to health systems, reduce inequality of care, personalise treatment pathways and improve patient outcomes.

Today’s health systems struggle to increase access amid limited resources, complex needs and changing patient demand. However, digital solutions can enhance primary care and increase capacity, insists Lyndsey Reeves, Director of UK Operations at digital healthcare provider, Livi.

Accessible care through digital innovation

Digital-first primary care optimises clinician time and resources, tailors treatment paths, reduces expenses and, importantly, expands patient access. For example, if a GP practice integrates innovations such as video appointments and digital practice management tools into existing systems, it could reach more patients and increase efficiency.

“We need solutions that enable greater access,” says Reeves. “Digital is a huge part of that because it gives patients the opportunity to access care from wherever they happen to be.”

Combining clinical resources with technology to offer digital consultations, practices can increase capacity to meet patient demand and tap into a remote GP workforce across the country.

We should be able to access care in the way that suits us, via a number of digital platforms.

Digital tools including messaging platforms can improve patient engagement, enabling patients to book or manage appointments and access wellbeing and self-care advice. Remote monitoring and batch messaging tools facilitate video consultations and enable practices to send automatic reminders, questionnaires and messages.

When integrated into healthcare systems and combined with care provision, digital solutions reach underserved communities, offering scalable care pathways designed for patients and simplifying access to the right care, at the right time.

Supporting the digital transformation of healthcare

However, challenges must be overcome. Government can do more to support the transformation of healthcare by helping the NHS connect with digital infrastructure and systems partners at scale, argues Reeves. Currently, partnerships are too small and funding for digital solutions is too localised and short-term — so the answer is the development of a national, long-term funding strategy.

“NHS England’s General Practice Forward View (published in 2016) committed to five years of funding to facilitate the implementation of digital solutions such as bulk messaging software and WiFi in practices,” she says. “Something similar is needed now so that further solutions can be put in place over a longer period of time.”

Reeves believes that patients would welcome it because, these days, they don’t need persuading to embrace digital tech. “Digital has a huge role to play in helping patients to connect the dots in their care journeys, particularly for those living with long-term conditions and chronic illness,” she says. “We should be able to access care in the way that suits us, via a number of digital platforms.”

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Learn how 15 health innovation networks localise innovations to address unique community needs, ensuring personalised healthcare solutions nationwide.

In England, 1.2 million see a GP, 250,000 have an outpatient visit and 50,000 visit A&E daily. Demand for services has never been greater; the ageing population is presenting with more co-morbidities and complex needs. With no signs of easing up, there is a greater need for NHS innovation in the NHS. However, innovation is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Health innovation tailored to local needs

Innovation, like any large-scale policy or transformation plan, requires tailored adaptation and personalisation to fit the unique needs of diverse populations. That’s why the 15 health innovation networks, charged with delivering spread and adoption of innovation in the NHS, are embedded in local regions and focus on matching promising innovations with their specific population needs.

Each health innovation network works closely with its respective integrated care boards (ICBs), to translate national policy into local innovation programmes. This approach enables innovation to address national targets while addressing unique local challenges through tailored strategies, whether it’s redesigning clinical services, introducing new technology or implementing novel therapies.

In England, 1.2 million see a GP, 250,000 have
an outpatient visit and 50,000 visit A&E daily.

Local projects address specific health issues

The Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme (InHIP) has projects across England funded to utilise technologies and medicines that align with the Core20PLUS5 approach to tackling healthcare inequalities. Each project was designed and developed by local health innovation networks, in partnership with their local health systems, to make sure that those most in need within their geography would benefit from innovation.

In practice, this involved a focus on fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing and smoking cessation to improve respiratory conditions in young people in Manchester; prescribing direct-acting oral anticoagulants to improve cardiac problems in North West London; and addressing heart failure in coastal North Devon.

From community to national health

While the collective impact of all these projects contributes to the national targets, local tailoring allows the health innovation networks to better align their activities with local priorities — and therefore, their local population.

Working collaboratively allows for learning to be spread more quickly. Being part of the Health Innovation Network allows us to build and harness local expertise and deliver national impact.

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Mitigating the fight against infection in hospitals, water dispenser technology is ensuring care standards and ensuring hygienic, safe drinking water for patients and hospital staff.

World Water Day, March 22nd, prompts us to consider the critical role water plays in the healthcare environment. Clean, safe drinking water is a staple care requirement, but many NHS trusts have removed water dispensers due to infection risk.

Importance of water for health

Water is fundamental to life and essential to recovery and wellbeing. From a simple glass of water aiding that regular pill intake to providing that all-important first sip of water post-surgery, safe and clean water plays a crucial role in patient recovery and staff wellbeing.

Drinking water infection risk

In the last few years, hospital trusts have been removing water coolers due to increased infection risk. Legionella, viruses and waterborne pathogens can be present in the water, posing a significant risk of waterborne illness and infections, especially when consumed by those with immune deficiencies.

With touch transmission of germs on drinking water systems in high footfall areas providing additional infection control risks, it is unsurprising that NHS trusts are looking for alternative water provision measures.

Infection control is addressed at every instance.

New water cooler technology to improve patient outcomes

Recently adopted by King’s College Hospital and Hammersmith Hospital in London is Borg & Overström’s E6 Chilled-only water dispenser. Paul Colebrook, Public Sector Consultant at Borg & Overström, explains how this breakthrough cooler, which has been designed for use in NHS hospitals, mitigates infection control risk.

“A shortened, single water pathway minimises wetted area and the risk of dead legs where bacteria can harbour. Viovandt® UV-C purification and 3M Carbonless filtration further mitigate risk of legionella and waterborne pathogens — which make it not only appropriate but ideal for the hospital environment,” explains Colebrook. Unique, patented SensorBeam® touch-free dispense with projection mapping technology, eliminates the touch transfer of germs, ensuring infection control is addressed at every instance.

NHS water quality standards

Designed to meet the rigorous NHS water quality standards, recent testing by independent water hygiene professionals Envirocloud showed no legionella detected in poured drinking water, despite being present in around 50% of the incoming water supply samples.

UK manufacturer Borg & Overström’s hygienic, sustainable water solutions are developed to reduce carbon and plastic footprint while the latest energy-saving technology can save up to 70% on energy running costs. Safe and sustainable water is a much-needed resource within care environments, providing essential drinking water for staff, visitors and patients.

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Barry Sheerman

MP for Huddersfield

Uncover hidden health risks in your home. Learn how indoor air quality impacts wellbeing and what the Government must do to safeguard public health.

Our health is a product of our environment. Home conditions — homes’ components and the environment within them — impinge on our health, with annual costs to the NHS running into the billions.

Factors affecting indoor air quality

We are accustomed to obvious risks, such as fire and fall hazards. The air in our homes, though often forgotten, significantly impacts our wellbeing. There is a concoction of airborne chemicals indoors — from building fabric emissions to combustion products, such as carbon monoxide from cooking and heating appliances.

Indoor air pollutants can lead to numerous health issues, from chronic ill health to potentially fatal complications. With 90% of time spent indoors, indoor exposure represents a grave portion of the 36,000 deaths in the UK attributed to air pollution.

Lacking strategy for indoor air quality

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is affected by a complex system of causes and mitigations. While individuals’ behaviours (like smoking or opening a window) are key, public services have considerable influence on many factors, including heating appliance safety and ambient pollution from congestion. Public servants bear the responsibility to address the inequitable impact on socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. There is a fragmented assortment of legislation and non-statutory guidance on aspects of IAQ, but many pollutants and sources go unaddressed. What’s missing is a concerted strategy to improve IAQ.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is affected by a
complex system of causes and mitigations.

Government guidance on improving IAQ

The housing and health departments’ recent guidance on damp and mould, while narrowly focused, can be a good first step towards improving IAQ. Drawing such guidance into a single dossier can inform broader cross-departmental collaboration on IAQ and build awareness in policymaking and the public of the full effects of indoor air pollution.

The Government can draw on a range of expertise for its IAQ strategy. The All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) convenes stakeholders that support the prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning through initiatives in, among others, healthcare, gas safety and healthy housing. The APPCOG network can be a key part of a coalition to advise on policy and coordinate on-the-ground IAQ action.

Address indoor air pollution now

With a general election looming, the next government must begin its preventative health agenda at home. Indoor air pollution sows the seeds of ill health and must be rooted out to drive improvements in public health and alleviate pressure on the NHS.

The post Clear the air: how to ensure safe indoor air quality for public health appeared first on Health Awareness.

Peter Dowd

Labour MP for Bootle, and Officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group

Discover the urgent need for a long-term Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy to fortify NHS services. Join the dialogue shaping the future of healthcare.

Implementing a comprehensive social care workforce strategy is crucial for revitalising NHS services. Whilst the care workforce pathway is promising, there remains a compelling need for a dedicated, long-term Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy to futureproof the adult social care sector over the next 10–15 years.

Lacking social care workforce plan

The absence of a parallel workforce plan for the social care sector, currently grappling with 152,000 vacancies, poses a substantial risk to realising the goals outlined in the long-term NHS Workforce Plan. One of the significant hurdles is the integration of the health and care sectors, given the existing disparities in pay scales.

Without swift measures to address funding and workforce shortages, essential services face extinction, exacerbating demands on the NHS and councils while leading to escalating levels of unmet social care needs in local communities. After enduring more than a decade of stagnant social care funding, and with an impending general election, the time has come for bold policies that address core issues.

Investing in social care is an investment
in pressure alleviation for the NHS.

Integrated social care strategy

A well-defined strategy would not only address existing challenges in social care but also seamlessly integrate with the NHS’s long-term workforce plan. This integration is crucial for creating a cohesive and sustainable healthcare system.

Investing in social care is an investment in pressure alleviation for the NHS. Timely and effective social care interventions can prevent the escalation of health issues, reducing the strain on emergency services and hospital admissions. This proactive approach not only enhances patient care but also fosters a more efficient and cost-effective healthcare system.

Addressing healthcare interconnection

Britain’s next government must prioritise the creation of a long-term social care workforce plan. This plan should address the challenges faced by the sector, ensuring its ability to seamlessly complement the NHS and contribute to a resilient healthcare system.

Policy Connect and the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group recognise the urgency of this matter and will be holding a pivotal event on the adult social care workforce in March, inviting stakeholders to contribute to the dialogue and shape the future of healthcare in the UK. It is time to recognise the interconnectedness of social care and the NHS for a healthier and more sustainable future.

The post Rebuilding the Social Care Sector: A Vital Step Towards a Robust NHS appeared first on Health Awareness.

Find solutions from various healthcare innovators tackling NHS challenges today. From funding to remote monitoring, they can offer support.

The NHS’s main challenges include short-term pressures impacting investment, capacity issues, staff shortages and insufficient focus on prevention. The Digital Healthcare Council (DHC) members offer innovative solutions.

Digital healthcare solution for easier investment decisions

Lilli has launched a fund in response to overcoming some of the major challenges facing the health and social care sector. It will match fund organisations to harness remote monitoring technology to help them expedite solutions to their key needs, increase efficiencies, savings in time, resources and money and improve health outcomes.

Creating additional capacity in the system

Our members have created innovative technologies to support people at home. Alder Hey NHS Foundation Trust Innovation Hub worked with Objectivity, part of Accenture, to develop a remote patient monitoring platform. Little Hearts at Home offers remote monitoring for infants with severe heart defects. They reduce hospital stays and anxiety for families with data-driven, personalised care.

TeleTracking Technologies’ patient flow platform automates processes to reduce the amount of time beds are unavailable between patient admissions in acute hospitals. This dramatically increases hospital capacity and saves time for frontline staff, as well as creating real-time data to improve bed allocation decision-making. This has helped hospitals shorten waiting times for patients.

Preventing health issues could relieve
substantial pressure on the NHS.

Optimising NHS clinician and staff time

HBSUK helps NHS providers reduce waiting times by providing online outpatient services and on-site clinical capacity resulting in 50% fewer patients having to attend a hospital for an appointment. Visiba offers AI-enabled patient triage and is NHS England’s partner for AI triage in urgent care.

Evergreen Life has a wellbeing platform that empowers people to take control of their own health records and improve their health and happiness – with elements spanning both primary and secondary care. eMed is working to democratise healthcare through its digital-first primary care service and chronic healthcare management solutions.

Prioritising prevention and keeping people well

Preventing health issues could relieve substantial pressure on the NHS. Preventx has partnered with NHS England to enable people to order home hepatitis C tests. This service will increase awareness of hepatitis C testing and support the UK to become the first country to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. Those who receive a positive test result are referred to NHS centres for simple treatment to clear them of the virus. Innovation isn’t something for the future — it’s part of the current solution that will help the NHS starting today.

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Find out how AI is revolutionising healthcare in Wales. From cancer diagnostics to pain management, we’re fostering innovation for better patient outcomes.

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is helping to enhance patient outcomes and deliver more effective services. This, in turn, can address major challenges such as workforce, cost and demand pressures.

Supportive innovation hub in Wales

In Wales, we foster a supportive, safe and collaborative environment for AI innovation, facilitating development to the implementation of solutions at a national scale by engaging the right stakeholders, including developers, manufacturers and healthcare workers. As a collaborative, Wales is making sure that AI is used safely and transparently by continually developing regulatory and governance arrangements.

We’re home to robust, trusted research environments such as the SAIL Databank, which holds a wealth of population-scale data. Additionally, there’s a rich pool of graduate talent and centres of excellence across Welsh universities. Programmes like the Wales Data Nation Accelerator foster collaboration and innovation.

AI advancing cancer diagnostics

Incredible work is going on across Wales. Cardiff-based JIVA.AI have successfully evaluated an AI diagnostic aid for prostate cancer in Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB).

In digital pathology, Betsi Cadwaladr UHB leads in trialling the IBEX AI platform. Further testing is underway across six health boards, with ambitions to integrate this technology into routine prostate cancer testing across Wales and to explore opportunities in the diagnosis of additional cancers.

As a collaborative, Wales is making sure that
AI is used safely and transparently by continually
developing regulatory and governance arrangements.

AI in pain management

AI is being deployed in a social care setting in Gwent to support pain management. Technology by PainChek provides baseline assessments of pain experienced by people with limited or no communicative ability.

Administrative and communication efficiencies

Healthcare providers are using AI for automating administrative tasks and optimising hospital operations, including patient flow, bed management, staff resources and ambulance responses.

AI-powered chatbots are helping clinical teams support patients at Velindre University NHS Trust, specialising in cancer services. They have developed RITA with IBM Watson Assistant, which answers a variety of cancer-focussed frequently asked questions and directs users to relevant information.

Driving health progress in Wales

AI innovation is positively impacting patients, staff and our wider economy. Life Sciences Hub Wales is driving progress through support, guidance and signposting services. Mike Emery, Chief Digital Officer for NHS Wales says: “Wales is a forward-thinking destination for AI innovation, thanks to our cross-sector collaboration and how we progress ethical AI adoption in health and social care. We’re delighted to be working closely with Life Sciences Hub Wales to drive this forward.”

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Digitise health records with a comprehensive automation service. Save time and costs and reduce carbon footprint while ensuring accurate, accessible patient data for superior care.

As the NHS continues to work through a backlog of medical procedures and increasing demand for services, it is more important than ever to recognise the digital-first ambitions laid out in the NHS Long Term Plan. Digital technology has the potential to offer more productive, systematic and individualised healthcare systems, contributing to the heightened call for sustainable healthcare.

Health records automation service

Peter Mann, Digital Strategy Lead at Xerox, offers insights into the work being done alongside numerous NHS trusts to digitise patient records and its importance for effective clinical practice.

Xerox provides a unique health records automation service, taking full responsibility for the management and facilitation of digitising paper medical records. The service affords doctors and nurses the time they truly need to focus on patient care.

Benefits of health record digitisation

The advantages of health record digitisation come in many forms, with time being the most critical. Alongside this are huge cost savings in admin and storage fees, significant carbon savings and the ability to ensure the accuracy and availability of medical data at all times.

The integrated care system has the structure available for multi-facility, multidisciplinary access, with features allowing for automated letters, virtual consultations and direct room bookings. Moreover, as AI develops, the possibilities will expand — as long as patient data is available in a digital format.

The integrated care system has
the structure available for multi-facility,
multidisciplinary access.

Investing in a paperless NHS

According to the most recent NHS annual survey, £238 million is spent each year on storage for paper health records. Mann highlights the importance of ‘acknowledging that figure.’ A paperless NHS is not yet a reality, as it requires time and resources to implement — and Xerox is striving to take the reigns.

Harnessing the potential of AI

In an age where technology is rapidly advancing, we need patient data to be digitised to harness AI’s potential in eliciting high-level care. Considering a new AI project for the detection of early signs of pre-eclampsia, Mann explains: “A paper record cannot facilitate the recognition of pre-eclampsia in this way; the data has to be digitised for this initiative to work. Paper health records are the slowest moving object in a rapidly moving healthcare system.”

In embracing this ambition, the imperative to digitise health records becomes clear, offering efficiency gains and cost savings and unlocking AI’s potential to deliver patient-focused and sustainable healthcare solutions.

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