Warrington and Halton hospitals electric bill up thousands

Responding to a Freedom of Information request, the Trust revealed figures showing the sharp rise in energy costs that have hit its hospitals.

In 2019/20, the Trust was billed £913,105 for electricity - by 2021/22 this had risen to £1,326,039.

New NHS electric vehicles have hit the road, including a mental health ambulance in #Merseyside. The new vehicle will reduce emissions and it's hoped the ambulance will cut response times for people in a mental health crisis. 💚🚑

➡️ https://t.co/Gyn5CN87Jv@NWAmbulance @NHSNW pic.twitter.com/QoWFMuiAdp

— NHS Cheshire and Merseyside (@NHSCandM) September 26, 2022

That's an increase of £412,934, which is a rise of more than 45 per cent.

The overall energy bill has risen by over £300,000 in 12 months.

In 2020/21 the total energy cost (gas and electricity) sat at £1,755,129 - by '21/'22 this had risen to £2,06,135.

Despite the sharp rises in electricity costs, the Trust has seen a marked decline in the costs it has paid for gas in recent years.

We've collected data published in the last two weeks on the rising #CostofLiving 📈

Annual inflation (including owner occupiers' housing costs) was 8.6% in Aug 2022, slightly down from 8.8% in July https://t.co/MLPfolfrxF

In July, the rate was at its highest level since 1990. pic.twitter.com/Hywl6HqgJ1

— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) September 26, 2022

In 2019/20, the Trust paid £1,378,278 for gas - by this year it had fallen to £750,097.

Overall, the Trust's energy bill has risen by 16.9 per cent in just one year.

However, the Trust's total costs in 2021/22 are still lower than 2019/20, when the energy costs were more than £2.2 million.

A spokesperson for Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals Trust said: "Like others, the Trust is facing challenges with cost increases across our entire operation, this includes energy costs.

“As outlined in the Chancellor’s Growth Plan 2022 issued last week, the energy bill relief scheme will provide a discount on gas and electricity unit prices for everyone on a non-domestic energy contract including public sector organisations such as schools, hospitals, and care homes.

"We welcome this initiative.

"In addition, we are committed to reducing our energy consumption and earlier this year launched our ‘Green Plan’ which sets out our plans to reduce our environmental impact, which in turn will lower our energy usage."