MORE than 400 solar panels have been installed at a Wirral hospital to help reduce its carbon usage.

Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral is first of 39 Spire hospitals to receive solar panels following a £226,000 investment. The aim is to help cut its carbon use by 35 tonnes CO2 a year, offsetting carbon emissions equivalent to 1,689 trees.

This is the first step in Spire’s group-wide project to install solar panels in all 39 hospitals across England, Wales and Scotland, helping Spire lead the UK’s independent hospital sector in meeting net zero status by 2030.  

The solar panel system has been installed on the raised roof and in the ground of the Spire Murrayfield Hospital in the Wirral.

Jitesh Sodha, chair of Spire Healthcare’s sustainability committee, Martin Pye, director of estates and facilities, along with the senior management team at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral celebrated the newly installed solar panels with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Janet McCandless, operations director at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral, said: "The installation of Solar panels is a key part of our decarbonisation strategy providing self-generated renewable energy.

Wirral Globe: Jitesh Sodha, chair of Spire Healthcare’s sustainability committee, Martin Pye, director of estates and facilities, along with the senior management team at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral celebrated the newly installed solar panels with a ribbon cutJitesh Sodha, chair of Spire Healthcare’s sustainability committee, Martin Pye, director of estates and facilities, along with the senior management team at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral celebrated the newly installed solar panels with a ribbon cut (Image: Spire Healthcare)"We at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral are excited to be the first hospital in the group to have both roof mounted and ground mounted panels. we are looking forward to the contribution they will make to our net zero target whilst helping reduce our exposure to rising energy costs."

Spire Healthcare is described as a leading independent healthcare group in the United Kingdom, with 39 hospitals and over 50 clinics, medical centres and consulting rooms across England, Wales and Scotland.

It operates a network of private GPs and provides occupational health services to more than 800 corporate clients.

Wirral Globe: The team at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral The team at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral (Image: Spire Healthcare)

Working in partnership with more than 8,600 experienced consultants, Spire Healthcare delivered tailored, personalised care to over 1 million inpatients, outpatients and daycase patients, and occupational health programme clients.

It also delivers a range of private and NHS mental health, musculoskeletal and dermatological services under the Vita Health Group brand.