AHEAD of the installation of a major new energy link connecting the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals the Oxford Mail went underground to go behind the scenes at what powers Oxfordshire’s biggest hospital.

The installation of the 2.2km pipeline through Headington will go ahead on November 28, creating a modern energy link which will save the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust around half a million pounds every year in energy bills.

At the John Radcliffe Hospital contractors Vital Energi is replacing the four ageing 1973-built boilers with one 4 and a half megawatt combination boiler and project manager Martin Pykett is busy with his team of around 50 people replacing the ‘antiquated’ energy systems.

Surrounded by a maze of pipes, in a cavernous system some six metres below the hospital, Mr Pykett, aged 61, told us: “The new equipment is phenomenal.

“The savings will be amazing. Energy savings are about half a million pounds every year. We are taking the equivalent of 3,000 cars a year in C02 emissions off the road with the new boilers.

“The change in air quality we will produce from the new kit is a massive benefit to the community. The current kit here we can see is old, it’s antiquated and has had its day. It’s done its job but it is old.

“The big challenge is it is a live hospital which we have got to keep running. The challenges are to keep it operational and to make sure there is not a shut down. It is a case of keeping the hospital running efficiently.”

Mr Pykett has worked in engineering since leaving school in Nottingham at the age of 14 and has worked on various hospitals already including Cheltenham General and Hinchingbrooke.

He said working at hospitals was 'really rewarding' and added: “The job satisfaction on something like this is enormous.

"We get to save enough money that can provide more nursing for example, or that can help with local air quality. It saves the NHS a huge amount of money."

As we went deeper into the bowels of the hospital the difference between the new modern equipment became more and more apparent.

Mr Pykett said: “Most of the equipment here is really antiquated.

“When you stop and realise how long this place has been going I think it is good what the estate and maintenance departments have done.

“Because very rarely if ever do you hear that they have had a shut down or anything like that.

“We install this kind of infrastructure at universities, its often buildings that have antiquated systems and everybody is looking for savings.

“We are not doing anything with Oxford University yet but I can see us venturing into that avenue. I don’t know old the system at the university is.”

The project which begins in residential areas on November 28 is expected to be completed by April 13.