Putting sustainability at the heart of the UK government’s 10-year health plan

The UK government’s upcoming 10-year health plan will shape the future of healthcare for the next decade and beyond. While the full details are still being finalised, the plan is expected to revolve around the ‘three big shifts’:

From hospitals to communities
From analogue to digital
From treatment to prevention

At the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, we believe these shifts present a unique opportunity to embed sustainability at the core of healthcare. However, to seize this opportunity, the government must make sustainability an explicit goal in the plan and actively highlight the synergies between health and environmental sustainability throughout the strategy.

Integrating sustainability in the three big shifts

1. Prevention with triple bottom line benefits

When prioritising prevention, the focus should be on interventions that provide ‘triple bottom line’ benefits—delivering positive outcomes for the environment, finances, and society, alongside health improvements. To achieve this, the health system must measure, track, and report these broader benefits to inform decision-making.

2. Community-based care and resilience

Transitioning to a community-based model of care offers an opportunity to enhance sustainability by fostering patient and community resilience and leveraging local resources. Successful initiatives like green social prescribing provide a strong foundation for this approach.

3. Digital transformation and sustainability

As the government aims to expand digital healthcare, priority should be given to technologies with a lower environmental impact or those that enhance sustainability by aligning with the five principles of sustainable healthcare:

Preventing illness and promoting health
Empowering patients
Streamlining care processes to boost efficiency and reduce waste
Implementing low-carbon interventions, approaches, or pathways
Optimising resource use in healthcare estates and operations

Aligning health goals with climate goals

Over the coming months and years, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare will work to influence the development and execution of the 10-year plan to ensure it maximises benefits for both people and the planet. By integrating its health and climate goals, the government has a unique opportunity to achieve better outcomes for patients and the environment.