…is a Crossbench Peer. After qualifying as a doctor and later teaching as an academic in the NHS for 25 years, she spent a period as a Health Service general manager between 1984 and 1990 which included the post of District General Manager for Lewisham and North Southwark Health Authority. Most recently she was Professor of Psychiatry of Old Age at Guy’s Hospital, and was Chair of the North East London Strategic Health Authority until 30 June 2006. Baroness Murphy was formerly Chair of Council at St George’s, University of London and a non-executive board member of Monitor (Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trust Hospitals). She is a Vice-President of the Alzheimer’s Society.
In 2004, she was made a life Peer as Baroness Murphy, of Aldgate in the City of London, taking interest in mental health, education, healthcare and ageing issues in the House of Lords. She is married and lives in Norfolk.
Baroness,
Have you complained yourself? There is a helpdesk service in Parliament for staff, members and peers. Or bring it up with Black Rod?
On the other hand, from what I can remember of a podcast of BBC World Service’s HealthCheck, research has shown that people feel more alert, sleep better and are on the whole more motivated when the light is blue/white rather than yellow/white.
I do sympathise, with these comments, as inadequate lighting affects us all and inappropriate lighting schemes are irritating. But do please be aware that the House of Lords lighting scheme was probably specified some time ago and is therefore based on what are now obsolete lighting products. As a lighting professional, I can tell you that many public low-energy schemes utilise bulbs and lamps which were state-of-the-art choices three or four years ago, but which have now been overtaken in terms of performance and appearance. This is an area of fast developing technology.
The first energy saving light bulbs which hit the market were indeed pretty crude by today’s standards. Many were bulky and oddly shaped, some gave off a cold, harsh light, and others took a while to warm up to full light., Fortunately, there have been some spectacular advances in product development since then. Major manufacturers like my own company (Megaman) have invested heavily in research to ensure that genuine low-energy alternatives are now available at reasonable cost.
Any perceived difference in light quality (using the latest products) is more likely to be in the mind of the observer, as the actual light output, as measured by accurate scientific instruments and verified by literally millions of satisfied users, has now been shown to be the same – and in some cases superior to old-style bulbs.
We will be happy to send in some of the latest models if you feel some comparative tests are in order!
John Murphy, Megaman UK.
Fortunately energy-saving bulb technology has moved on in recent years so it is possible to get bulbs that give off a range of light intensity and warmth equivalent to incandescent bulbs. Perhaps you can instigate a policy to use a more thoughtful choice of bulb when they are replaced. Although that will of course take a while as they last longer 🙂
Thank you everyone for these helpful comments. I have sent a copy of the blog and these comments to the Lords House Committee, who are responsible for these matters I believe. We all want to use ‘green’ energy where appropriate so lets hope in due course the Lords will glow again.