<NHS chiefs hope turning lights off will save money at Eastbourne District General Hospital, above>

Hospital bosses are hoping to cut a £1.5 million debt by getting staff to switch off lights.

Eastbourne District General Hospital has fallen into the red due to the strain of taking on more permanent staff, but hospital chiefs hope to rain in costs under an energy awareness campaign.

The campaign is aimed at getting staff to turn off lights to cut down on unnecessary expenditure on power without hindering services.

The hospital's 2,500 workers are being urged to switch off lights if they are away from a room for more then 15 minutes and at the end of a working day.

They are also being told to make sure unnecessary heating, computers and other electrical equipment are turned off when not in use.

Dripping or faulty taps are also being clamped down on in the bid to cut costs.

Last year, Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the District general Hospital, All Saints Hospital in Eastbourne and a maternity unit in Crowborough, received a massive £1.1 million energy bill.

The expenditure on power now stands at about £3,000 per day with £400,000 being spent annually on electricity.

A ten per cent reduction in electrical costs would save over £40,000 which could be diverted to patient services.