How can you make one climate friendly change in your ward?

Wednesday, 26 April, 2023

We're delighted to share the news that two examples of CSH supported projects, from the fields of HIV and renal care, were cited in the BMJ last week as examples of strong sustainable healthcare practices that, as is typically the case, also resulted in cost savings.

  • Gareth Murcutt, a renal technical manager at the Royal Free Hospital in London and a current UKKA/CSH Sustainable Kidney Care Scholar, found that a typical 30 bed dialysis unit would immediately save £20,000 a year in acid concentrate by switching the trust's dialysis units (wards) to central delivery systems.
  • As part of their Green Ward Project, the HIV Service team in Northampton transferred its more stable patients from twice-yearly in-person visits and blood tests to a phone call with a specialist nurse in place of one of these visits. This helped the service save £44,905 in expenses and 25,958 kg CO2e over the course of a year, which is the equivalent of driving 74,763 miles in a car.

For more details, see "How to save £20 000 and 780 staff hours a year on a single ward—by making one climate friendly change | The BMJ"

Sustainable Kidney Care Group Scholar Programme 

A group of renal care health professionals and health service managers have been brought together for a 12-month Sustainability Group Scholar Programme through the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare and the UK Kidney Association (UKKA). Each CSH/UKKA Sustainability Scholar is supported with protected time by their employer for one day per week to work on a sustainability kidney care project. The aims of a Sustainability Group Scholar Programme are to: 

  • Create a community of practice and increase knowledge about sustainability challenges and solutions in healthcare
  • Gain strategic influence, spread good practice and grow the next generation of leaders in sustainable healthcare
  • Deliver a sustainable improvement project within their area of work

What Is the Green Team Competition?

The Green Team Competition is a recognised leadership and engagement programme that transforms healthcare by involving healthcare staff in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Sustainable Quality Improvement (SusQI) projects that reduce carbon emissions, enhance patient care and staff satisfaction, and generate financial savings.The Green Team Competition can be held locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally for certain healthcare companies (such as NHS Trust or NHS Health Board).

Please visit our Resource Library to view case studies from prior participants.