Big changes to the way healthcare is delivered are being introduced by the Scottish Government, in a bid to tackle climate change and make hospitals greener. And staff have a vital role to play.
A new directive, which is mandatory, is calling for a number of measures to be implemented, including energy saving, recycling improvements, renewable heat and more public access to NHS green space. The Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development Policy for NHS Scotland (DL 38) affects every aspect of healthcare and should be reviewed by everyone working for NHS Forth Valley.
NHS Forth Valley Environmental and Sustainability Manager, Derek Jarvie, explained: “It is clear the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are taking the climate emergency very seriously indeed – a climate crisis is a health crisis – and many of the drivers of climate change are drivers of ill health and health inequalities.
“Significant and long-term changes to the way healthcare is delivered will be required to ensure this Board makes an effective contribution to the national drive to limit global impacts.”
NHS Forth Valley has already started to build a Climate Emergency and Sustainability Team to tackle the scale and complexity of the challenge ahead. A strong management structure will ensure that climate emergency considerations are fully integrated into all planning and operational practices, and a number of sub-committees are also being set up to focus on specific issues.
These will look at areas such as transport, where there are plans to shift to an electric fleet by 2025 and set a target to reduce the number of journeys taken by car (staff, patients and visitors). NHS Forth Valley will support the continued use and expansion of NHS Near Me, and refresh and modernise the home working policy.
Other goals involve working with our existing suppliers to reduce unnecessary plastic, taking steps to reduce single-use items, reduce unnecessary packaging and shift to reusable and recyclable packaging.
Derek Jarvie says its vitally important that staff are on board for this climate change journey. He explained: “As Scotland’s biggest employer, the NHS workforce has a significant role to play in tackling climate change and most staff would agree it is important for the health system to work in a more sustainable way. It is vital that we keep staff, patients, visitors and the wider community informed on these aims and the progress that is being made as well as highlight what each individual can do to support the effort.
“The recent pandemic has shown that NHS staff are resilient and can make significant changes to working practices – a similar level of support and determination will be required to tackle the climate emergency.”
Watch out for more information and further developments, including the possibility of new Green Nurse Champions, through Staff News and Staff Brief.
