Solar rollout powers sustainability drive

Australia's largest private hospitals operator has taken another big step towards its goal of reaching Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

St Andrew's Ipswich Private Hospital is the latest Ramsay Health Care facility to install a rooftop solar panel system, which is expected to significantly reduce its energy use.

Hospital CEO MichaelLewczuksaid the new254-kilowattsystem would save more than 303 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, the equivalent of taking 137 new cars off the road.

"Installing solar panels is great for the environment and creatingamore sustainable hospital for the future," MrLewczuksaid.

Ramsay had alreadygenerated more than four million kilowatt hours of renewable electricity by the end of June 2023 according to the global group's latest Impact Report.

St Andrew's Ipswich Private is the 28th of its 74 sites nationwide to be generating solar power.

"Our hospital rooftopsolar program is just one example of the fantastic environmental initiatives happening across Ramsay," Australian CEO Carmel Monaghan said.

In June 2022, Ramsay set a near-term target to reduce scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions – those that a company can control directly and indirectly – by 42 percent by 2030.

The group cut itsemissions by nine percent in the following 12 months on the previous year, despite growth in activity and acquisitions, and is on track to achieve the near-term target against a 2020 baseline.

"Our doctors, theatre nurses and procurement team have been working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from anaesthetic gases, and we've seen a 38 percent reduction in emissions from desflurane use compared to last year," Ms Monaghan said.

"We're also really focused on making positive changes for our people and communities. From recycling uniforms and donating surplus medical equipment to developing countries, there's an incredible range of inspiring and generous ideas."

St Andrew's Ipswich Private Hospital is alsoin the process of upgradingto energy-efficient LED lights, which could save anadditional31 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

It is following Ramsay's goal of creating greener operating theatres by removing the anaesthetic gas desflurane and switching to more environmentally-friendly options.

The south-east Queensland facility has also replaced nearly 680,000 single-use plastics with more sustainable alternatives in the past 18 months.

"I'm excited to be moving forward with our commitment to addressing climate change through meaningful sustainability initiatives and taking practical steps to protect the planet,"MrLewczuksaid.

The report also showed Ramsay had made a renewed focus on promoting inclusion and diversity, said its Global CEO and Managing Director, Craig McNally.

"Ramsay has a terrifically diverse workforce, which gives us a real advantage when it comes to understanding our patients and coming up with new ideas," he said.

"As the Impact Report shows, we've been creating new forums to build social support and a sense of community for our people to feel energised by what we can achieve together."

Read more: Creating a sustainable future

Read more: Caring for patients and the planet

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