Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the total energy costs of the NHS in England for electricity and heating; what steps they are taking to reduce those costs; and what targets they have for such efficiencies.

The total cost of all energy supplies, including electricity, gas, oil and coal, to the National Health Service in 2015-16 was reported by the NHS as £570 million. This data is provided as reported by the NHS and has not been amended centrally.

Delivering energy efficiency and generating financial savings for re-investment is the responsibility of NHS trusts locally. Savings can be made through a variety of approaches including better energy management and capital investment in more energy efficient infrastructure.

However, Lord Carter’s Final Report Operational productivity and performance in English NHS acute hospitals: Unwarranted variations published in February 2016 estimated that £36 million could be saved from energy costs by acute NHS trusts through improved efficiency. A copy of Lord Carter’s Final Report is attached.

The Department is working with the NHS to identify the potential for energy savings and providing support where necessary to deliver them. This includes encouraging the NHS to make energy savings through invest to save schemes.