Hidden healthcare savings

18th May 2015

REO UK

Jordan Mulcare

0 0

Using a REOMED medical isolation transformer is a cheap and easy way to protect patients and use less energy. Despite the many cost saving measures introduced over the last decade, healthcare providers are still some of the most energy intensive users of electricity in the UK. The NHS, for example, spends on average over £750m annually, spread over 2,300 hospitals, 10,500 general practices, as well as numerous additional trusts.

It's not surprising then that the Carbon footprint of the NHS is around 25m tonnes per year. To make a bad situation worse, energy costs in the UK are set to rise faster than inflation. Government funded measures in the past have included automatic LED lighting, efficient heating and ventilation, biomass boilers, pipes and insulation.

At an estimated cost of £1.5bn capital outlay, these measures are not cheap. While UK healthcare certainly needs long-term sustainable investment, there are more immediate methods being overlooked now. Monitoring and diagnosis equipment, as well as tablets and computers used by doctors in patient environments cause fluctuation of the mains voltage and current leakage, risking errors in monitoring and misdiagnosis of acute medical conditions.

REO has calculated that an endoscope using a REOMED transformer uses approximately 50% less energy, an equivalent saving of £900 per year for a product that is continuously powered.

The company suggets calling on all healthcare providers to uncover existing hidden savings first as part of a greater long-term sustainable strategy.