Participating Regions: South East & London
South East
'Mapping Greener Healthcare' was developed by The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (formerly known as the Campaign for Greener Healthcare) in collaboration with the South East Public Health Advisory Group and the two Strategic Health Authorities in the Region.
The NHS in the South East recognized the importance of sustainability in their South East Regional Health Strategy for 2008. As a result the two Regional Directors of Public Health, John Newton and Yvonne Doyle, commissioned the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare to map activities in sustainable development, good corporate citizenship or ‘greening’.
A web-based questionnaire, http://map.greenerhealthcare.org, has been created to allow trusts to share experiences in the implementation of sustainable projects. This resource also allows trusts to develop networks, tools and programmes to support each other across the various domains: energy and carbon management, procurement and food, transport and travel, water use, waste management, designing the built environment, workforce development, partnership and networks, finance and governance.
Of the 50 trusts in the South East Region, 23 trusts have at this point entered 46 projects on the mapping website. Fifteen trusts of the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority have entered 21 projects and 8 trusts of South Central contributed 26 projects. The majority of projects are led by departments of estates and facilities.
The highest number of projects, 17 (37%), fall into the area of carbon and energy management, 12 (26%) in the area of travel and transport, 5 (11%) in procurement and food, 4 (9%) in waste management, 4 (9%) in governance, 2 (4%) in design the built environment, 1 (2%) in water and 1 (2%) in organisational development.
Reduction of energy consumption and carbon emissions seems to be the main driving force for the implementation of sustainable projects. On the other hand, good publicity and a positive impact on staff and the working environment were a common theme amongst positive outcomes quoted. Figures for financial savings and carbon savings and implementation costs were mostly estimates and varied reflecting the broad spectrum of projects.
It is unlikely that this mapping exercise has to date uncovered the full extent of sustainable activity across the Region. Some 50% of trusts have entered projects in this area on the mapping website. If continued support from the region can be guaranteed , the aim is to engage 100% of Trusts in this important and increasingly urgent work. To look at the full report please go to Interim Report
London
'Mapping Greener Healthcare' has reached an exciting new stage with the London NHS Travel Network signing up to the project. The network will use the tool to map sustainable travel initiatives, raise awareness of their existence, share best practice and to support the development of tools. The expansion of the project has provided an opportunity to improve the functionality of the mapping website allowing users to search for projects accroging to key area and/ or region.
To view or enter projects in sustainable development please go to http://map.greenerhealthcare.org
For more information, contact ingeborg.steinbach@kintoa.org