A strong statement – but an entirely reasonable one. In the UK, our multi-billion pound healthcare system is arguably the most advanced in its structure and function worldwide. Billions of people rely on receiving ongoing medical care from the NHS each year. Immigration, the rising birth rate and people simply living longer means that the pressure on the NHS to deliver is ever-increasing.
The question
Budgetary cuts from the Government are something with which various bodies have to live and the NHS is no exception. However it does stand alone in some senses on trying to save money because of the nature of the service that it provides. High quality healthcare is something which has been sought after for hundreds of years and the more money that is poured into our healthcare system, the better the care will be. There is no frivolous spending or unwise investments that can be cut back on. Put simply, the NHS needs every penny that it has. So where are these cuts supposed to come from?
Effective lighting within the NHS is important for a number of reasons. From giving basic visual guidance to vehicles and pedestrians around NHS sites, to illuminating operating theatres, light is crucial in patient care. LED Hospital Lighting provides high-quality, precise light at a lower cost than traditional lights. Using more energy efficient lighting can save money and reduce the carbon footprint of a Trust. Could an unexpected saving be found simply by changing the way that we see what we’re doing?
What are some of the benefits of using LED lights in the NHS?
• Reducing energy emissions and costs
• They are cost-effective to be disposed of if decommissioned
• It’s possible to integrate them with control systems to give the light just where it’s needed, when it’s needed
• LED luminaires can be daylight-controlled
Reducing staffing levels is an increasingly common tactic among those businesses looking to save money, but this can’t be applied to the NHS. Why not? Because the staffing structure has been designed and implemented to provide necessary support and expertise to crucial patient care. Reducing the number of nurses or doctors inevitably means that the workload increases for the remaining staff – and quite transparently patients could feel the results of this added pressure. To cut staffing levels is to put their care into jeopardy. So where else can the NHS look to save money?
Car parks.
A hospital is a beast that never sleeps. Patient care happens around the clock, 365 days a year. Having a well lit car park is vital for safety and security; these areas are frequently large and may not be anywhere near the main entrance of the hospital. But keeping lights switched on constantly is simply not cost effective. LED car park lighting can be used to provide high quality, targeted light where and when it is needed.
Lighting requirements will vary from site to site, but hospitals are among those places where good quality lighting is essential. There will inevitably be more foot traffic during night time hours than many other places and the mobility of some people is likely to be compromised. Using LED hospital lighting to illuminate paths, walkways and car parks will increase patients and visitor safety considerably.
https://www.gemmalighting.com/product/led-car-park-lighting
Why LEDs?
Exterior lighting is an area in which LEDs excel. They provide the right amount and quality of light to cover any aspect of outdoor illumination. The light they give mimics natural daylight, making it the most effective in output and security. They are also cost effective; investment in these tiny lights is returned many times over.
What more can you ask from a light?
LED Hospital Lighting has a minimum lifespan of approximately 50,000 to 100,000 hours at a usage rate of 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year; lasting for seven years. This is vastly better than traditional lighting solutions. And of course, savings which are made through energy efficient lighting can be put back into clinical care for the patients.
So, to recap: just by making the switch to using an LED hospital lighting solution, can help the NHS:
• Save money
• Meet government target cuts
• Create a means of having a much greener, energy efficient NHS
• Enhance patient care in the best possible way by avoiding the need to cut staffing levels
The installation of LED Hospital Lighting may not be one of the most immediately obvious saving solutions – but they are certainly proving to be one of the most effective.