HEALTH workers have criticised the appointment of a manager to help Colchester’s hospitals boost their green credentials.

Dr Vall Rasaratnam has been appointed Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust’s first energy and sustainability manager.

But staff said the role, which will see Dr Rasaratnam encourage staff to turn off lights and to wear warm clothes in winter, is a waste of money.

The trust refused to reveal how much the new role will cost.

One member of nursing staff at Colchester General Hospital, who did not want to be named, said: “It is absolutely ridiculous. We need more nursing staff, not another manager.

“We don’t know what half these managers do anyway – we need staff to help the patients.”

Matthew Sinclair, director of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, also criticised the appointment.

He said: “With taxpayers hard-pressed following the recession, they will be shocked to learn their money is being spent on this kind of non-job.

“We are seeing more and more hospital trusts employing climate change officers based on spurious targets.

“With budgets likely to be tight for years to come, staff can take these commonsense steps to keep down energy use themselves.

“New non-frontline staff are not the answer.”

Dr Rasaratnam hopes to help the trust reduce its carbon emissions by 10 per cent in the next year through a range of measures, including increasing its energy efficiency, recycling levels and encouraging more staff to car share or travel by bus or bike to work.

In December, the trust will also join the NHS Carbon Management Programme, which provides healthcare organisations with support and guidance to help them reduce their carbon emissions.

Dr Rasaratnam said: “Part of my job will be to change the culture, so more people take simple measures, such as switching off unnecessary lighting, turning down thermostats and wearing more clothing in winter and not leaving mobile phone chargers switched on.

“These will make a significant contribution to cutting carbon emissions, and I will also lead on technical initiatives designed to reduce energy use, emissions and waste.”

The trust, which employs 3,500 staff, says it produces approximately 10,000 tonnes of carbon a year.

Last year it spent just over £2million on utilities and waste management.