Net Zero progress
of large-scale transitions to reusable medical technology.
Next steps The NHS has now demonstrated it can provide low carbon high quality care that delivers cost savings. Over the next five years, the mission is to embed this further, reducing variation and achieving carbon and cost savings at scale. To achieve this: l Net Zero principles, in line with the NHS climate duties, will be considered in pathway design and service change programmes at Trust and ICB level, adopting the South East Clinical Senate approach where environmental sustainability is embedded at the outset of service redesigns as a guiding principle
l All new and refreshed GIRFT reports will consider environmental sustainability from conception: l More greener pathways guides are being developed, including on elective hip, elective knee and skin cancer surgery, and these will be implemented across a range of clinical specialties
l GIRFT will support the ongoing delivery of low carbon care through its national network of clinically led programmes
l In partnership with NHS Supply Chain, Design for Life, Royal Colleges, GIRFT and other representatives of clinical professions, the NHS will reduce the use of products, clinical interventions and infection prevention and control practices that evidence has shown are clinically unnecessary or outdated, carry a high cost or carbon burden on the NHS, or where circular solutions are ready for adoption across the system l This includes a commitment to reduce single-use glove and gown use by 25% by 2030.
l To prepare for a circular future, the NHS will work with the Design for Life programme to survey the existing decontamination infrastructure available to the NHS to support reusable products and develop a strategy for maximising this capacity.
Research and innovation Research and innovation are key enablers to support the transition towards a more sustainable healthcare system and are driving
better and more efficient care for patients and delivering value for the taxpayer. Since 2021 the Small Business Research Initiative Healthcare programme, hosted by the Accelerated Access Collaborative, in partnership with the Greener NHS team and the Health Innovation Network, has awarded over £10 million to innovation projects that benefit patients and accelerate a more sustainable NHS. These include pioneering circular economy and decontamination initiatives to allow reuse of devices; development of virtual care models; specialist surgical textiles designed for reuse; and drones to transport medical packages. Since 2021, the Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health and Care Research and UK Research and Innovation have invested over £50 million in research funding on decarbonisation and adaptation of healthcare. This includes £25 million of research funding
over a five-year period for decarbonising health and social care, and investment of £12 million into two transdisciplinary research hubs that will focus on circularity and delivery of low carbon care.
Workforce Staff continue to be supportive of the NHS taking action on Net Zero with 9 in 10 supporting this ambition. Across the NHS small changes in behaviour have unlocked improved patient outcomes, efficiencies, cost savings and greater staff retention. The ambition is to now embed behaviour change at all levels across the workforce to deliver these benefits.
Overall, the total emissions from inhalers, nitrous oxide and volatile anaesthetics have reduced by 470 ktCO2e or 33% since 2019/20.
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Progress l Collaboration with Royal Colleges, regulators, clinical associations and societies has led to a range of specialty specific guidance being developed for the clinical workforce. This includes: l The Royal College of General Practitioners’ Net Zero Hub.
l The Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s GreenED framework.
l Green Impact – Dentistry Toolkit. l The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change’s Green Surgery Report.
l The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Net Zero resources and guidance.
This work offers guidance to clinicians and staff on how to improve patient health, deliver financial savings and reduce emission. In the last five years over 100,000 staff in England have completed training on sustainable healthcare, with several clinical regulators integrating sustainability into professional standards and training curricula.
Next steps l As part of their green plans, all Trusts and ICBs should have an established clinical lead with oversight of Net Zero clinical transformation as well as formal links into board level leadership and governance.
l As part of the Design for Life programme, a training and skills framework and a behaviour change plan will be developed, which will support staff to deliver the financial, carbon, resilience and patient safety opportunities that circular and low carbon products provide.
l The NHS will continue to support staff to develop their skills and knowledge to adopt more sustainable practices to unlock improved patient outcomes and cost savings.
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