The Future of Health and Social Care: Harnessing the Power of Nursing and Midwifery to Lead Change in Climate and Social Justice
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is partnering with the Burdett Trust for Nursing to launch a groundbreaking pilot project aimed at improving sustainable practice education and training for nurses and midwives across the UK.
Recognising climate change as an urgent threat, we propose a holistic educational programme to harness the unique reach and influence of the 900,000-strong nursing and midwifery workforce across the UK. Our goal is to foster a health system which is responsive to environmental and social challenges, where sustainable practices help address health inequalities, improve population health and patient outcomes, and promotes climate and social justice.
Why is The Future of Health and Social Care project important?
Climate change is the most significant threat we have ever faced as a human race and, sadly, our most vulnerable communities will face the worst of the impact. Nurses and midwives, as the most trusted profession globally and at the frontline of care, are well-positioned to mitigate these impacts through sustainable practices that also improve health equity. However, there is limited educational support for sustainable healthcare in the sector. Our proposal will bridge this gap by providing a structured, tiered educational programme to empower nurses and midwives with the skills and confidence to address these urgent challenges and adopt low-carbon practices that focus on prevention, population health, and climate justice.
What is The Future of Health and Social Care project?
This initiative offers a three-tiered educational programme designed to educate and upskill nurses and midwives across all levels in the principles of sustainability, climate literacy and social justice.
These virtual course will emphasise the connection between climate change and health inequalities, focusing on ways to support vulnerable groups disproportionately affected by environmental challenges. Additionally, it will promote preventive approaches that reduce demand on services while supporting healthier, more resilient populations and equitable access to health and social care.
Tiered Education Model
Tier 1: Foundational Course for Frontline Nurses and Midwives
This introductory course for 1,000 participants delivered annually over two years will equip frontline professionals with essential knowledge and practical skills to integrate sustainability into their daily practice. Key course elements include 8 hours of online academic study, a live large cohort webinar to embed learning, develop a project plan and network with like-minded individuals. Key learning outcomes:
- Understanding the links between climate change, health inequalities, and public health.
- Basic climate literacy and an introduction to sustainable healthcare practices.
- The ability to plan and implement workplace projects.
Tier 2: Technical Courses for Specialist Service Leads
Aimed at those in specialist service lead roles, this course introduces the Sustainability in Quality Improvement (SusQI) framework and Carbon Footprinting for Healthcare methodologies, equipping participants with advanced skills to drive forward improvement initiatives, quantify carbon reduction metrics, and lead sustainable practices that reduce health disparities. This 100 place course will be delivered virtually to ensure accessibility for all consisting of 8 hours of online learning, a 4-hour workshop and a 2-hour follow up session. All participants will have access to CSH’s specialist resource library of over 1,000 resources including case studies and research articles. By embedding sustainability into quality improvement projects, participants will be trained to address social, environmental, and economic factors impacting health outcomes. Key learning outcomes?
- Using the SusQI framework to measure “sustainable value” by assessing environmental, social, and health outcomes.
- Implementing “triple bottom line” quality improvement projects that advance health equity, targeting resources to populations with higher needs or access barriers. This technical course empowers participants to make informed, equitable decisions, creating services that focus on population health, climate resilience, and social justice.
Tier 3: Net Zero Leadership Programme for Strategic/Executive Leaders
Designed for senior nursing and midwifery leaders working at Board level or in similar roles, this programme builds capacity within organisations to champion the sustainability agenda and drive strategic initiatives. Senior leaders will gain tools to lead transformative change, using their influence to embed sustainable, equitable practices across health and social care settings. 60 funded places will be available per year, for two years. The programme will consist of 8 hours of online learning, a 2-hour workshop and a 1-hour follow up session. All participants will have access to CSH’s dedicated resource library of over 1,000 resources including case studies and research articles. Key learning outcomes include:
- Developing climate literacy for healthcare management and understanding social determinants of health.
- Applying leadership and policy skills to drive equitable, environmentally responsible healthcare. This programme prepares leaders to advocate for systemic change that supports climate and social justice, prioritising preventive, sustainable practices that address the root causes of health inequalities.
Addressing Health Inequalities, Prevention, and Social Justice
Central to this programme is a focus on health equity, prevention, and population health. By embedding sustainability into the core of healthcare practice, the programme addresses the social determinants of health, recognising that disadvantaged communities often face the greatest health impacts from environmental issues. Through training in climate literacy, quality improvement and leadership, participants will be empowered to:
- Develop and implement preventative healthcare models that reduce demand on services and improve overall community health.
- Create projects that benefit vulnerable populations by improving access to low-carbon, sustainable healthcare.
- Promote climate and social justice by reducing healthcare’s environmental impact, creating a healthier living environment for all. This approach supports the NHS and social care’s goals to achieve net-zero emissions, while also improving the quality of life, particularly for those in vulnerable communities.
Programme Outcomes and Legacy
The programme will result in over 2,200 trained nurses and midwives with a robust understanding of sustainable healthcare principles, committed to advancing environmental, social, and health equity goals within their practice.
These healthcare professionals will be equipped to promote sustainable practices, sharing knowledge and insights across our online professional networks hosted by CSH, ensuring a legacy of continuous improvement and collaboration across our health and social care system.
This training will establish a model for sustainable healthcare that prioritises the health of populations, the climate, and social equity, with nurses and midwives leading the way. Through sustained partnerships and support from professional bodies, CSH aims to expand the impact of this initiative, continuing the work of fostering climate-conscious, equitable healthcare practices well into the future. In addition, up to 50 nurse/midwife educators who complete any of these courses will have the opportunity to become trained as CSH-accredited facilitators, at no additional cost, by attending a short workshop with our Education and Training Lead and shadowing an experienced facilitator in a course workshop. This will allow the programme to broaden its initial reach beyond the period of funding, scaling up the impact beyond the initial cohort, by cascading the delivery of training to reach thousands more in future years.
For more information on this project or the upcoming courses, please contact Lucy Brown, CSH’s EU horizon clinical delivery lead.