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Sustainable Maternity Care in focus: lessons from the frontline
We’re delighted to share that Angela Hayes, Clinical Nurse Fellow and Project Lead at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, has been featured on the Patient Safety Learning hub. In her blog, Angela reflects on the Green Maternity Challenge, drawing on three compelling case studies that demonstrate how sustainable approaches can deliver low carbon, equitable and safe maternity care.
The case studies explore:
- Implementing local screening for newborn developmental hip dysplasia
- Enhancing support for breastfeeding
- Addressing health inequalities experienced by Albanian-speaking women
With over 673,000 births in 2022, maternity services represent a significant portion of the NHS carbon footprint. The Green Maternity Challenge, delivered in partnership with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives, and the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition, aimed to reduce the environmental impact of maternity care while improving outcomes and equity.
Nine clinical teams across the UK were supported by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare to develop and evaluate sustainable quality improvement (SusQI) projects within maternity services.
The Green Maternity Challenge concluded with a wealth of learning and innovation, but our work continues. This year, we are excited to be supporting the Green Nursing Challenge, empowering nurses across the UK to lead sustainable improvements in patient care.
Interested in making maternity and nursing care more sustainable?
Green Nursing Challenge 2025
Building on that success, we’re now leading the Green Nursing Challenge, a fully funded national initiative supporting nurses to lead sustainable improvements in patient care. Funded by Micro-Tech UK and delivered in partnership with The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing and the Foundation of Nursing Studies, the challenge empowers nursing teams to cut carbon, reduce costs, and enhance care quality and staff experience.
Adapted from our award-winning Green Team Competition, this programme draws on nearly a decade of experience helping healthcare professionals take meaningful climate action within their own services.
If you’re a nurse, midwife or healthcare educator interested in embedding sustainability into your work or curriculum, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare offers a range of tools, training, and partnership opportunities to support your journey.
Learn more about the Green Specialty Challenges and how to get involved through our SusQI framework and Academy Programme.
