What is the Greener NHS National Programme?

By Monika Thapa, MSc Health Informatics

Edited by Ben Jamieson, BA Broadcast and Digital Journalism

Image courtesy of Creative Commons

Sustainability is the concept of making sure that the current generations’ needs are met, without compromising the needs of future generations. Sustainability programmes are being established within healthcare practises across the world, with just one of them being the Greener NHS National Programme.

The Greener NHS National Programme’s main goals are to reach net zero over the carbon emissions the NHS can directly control by 2040, and net zero over the carbon emissions the NHS can influence by 2045, all without negatively affecting the quality of healthcare they can provide. Changes such as reducing energy consumption by switching off unused equipment and lights, minimising its single use goods, and properly sorting clinical and non-clinical waste, are all being implemented in NHS hospitals.

In 2020, the NHS exceeded its goals under the Climate Change Act, and is now on track to become the world’s first net zero national health service. Sustainability changes are being implemented across the UK, with notable case studies including:

1. Reducing the unnecessary usage of cannulas (tubes inserted into the body for the insertion or retrieval of fluid) at Charing Cross Hospital, resulting in a yearly reduction of 19,000 kgCO2e in carbon emissions and savings of £95,000.

2. Milton Keynes University Hospital installing roof insulation and solar panels, allowing it to better manage energy use and generate energy on site, reducing its 2021 carbon emissions by 181tCO2e

3. University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust using alternative anaesthesia options over desflurane, saving the equivalent of 30,000kg CO2 per month over two years

4. Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust implementing an electric cargo bike courier delivery scheme to temporarily replace an existing diesel van courier service between two city centre hospital sites, lowering carbon emissions by 212kg over three months

When implementing sustainability schemes into a medical practice as all-encompassing as the NHS, a number of factors must be considered. These include sufficiently engaging and educating staff to the changes at hand, integrating changes in such a way as to not interfere with proper medical practice, and ensuring that relationships are established with existing IT, resource, and administration departments.

As the NHS continues its ongoing transition to digital over analogue systems, the environmental value of harnessing digital forms and papers rather than paper versions cannot be understated. It’s vital that we ensure today’s actions benefit the future, and it’s therefore critical to incorporate sustainability goals into all aspects of all health-care services.

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About the Writer: Monika Thapa is an international student at UWL and nurse by profession who is currently pursuing her MSc Health Informatics degree. She loves learning new things and exploring new places, as well as dancing and listening to music. Cheers to life!

Monika is on LinkedIn.

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