Hospitals join in climate change study

Senior staff at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have agreed to take part in a multi-million pound design and engineering study led by Cambridge University.

The Design and Delivery of Robust Hospital Environments in a Changing Climate project is investigating ways of meeting stringent carbon reduction targets over the next decade.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust deputy director of estates, Ian Hinitt, said: “The research is taking place over three years and will assist the international healthcare community to adapt and re-design hospital buildings to better withstand the world’s changing climate.

“Bradford is exceptional as both the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital sites have seen continuous development and expansion since the 1930s.

“Our buildings cover every kind of architecture and design decade over that period, so all the theories can be tested on one site – making us ideal participants as researchers can examine the impact of climate change on our buildings.

“We expect the findings will be of utmost importance to architects across the UK and indeed further afield. This type and length of study has never been carried out and it could have huge ramifications for those tasked with designing new buildings in the future.”

Bradford is collaborating with other NHS trusts from West Hertfordshire, Cambridge and Leicester.

Other research partners include the University of Leeds and Loughborough University.