Sustainability strategy
account for over 90% of operating theatre energy consumption.” Let’s be clear; no solitary solution will achieve
Net Zero, but incrementally and with that clear 2040 target to the fore, mould-breaking, innovative thinking can produce the momentum and mindset change needed to get us there. Historically, Scotland has consistently been proven to be a pioneer in so many ways, and its NHS can now be innovators in the battle to prevent climate change too. Following the country’s demonstration of its ability to quickly and collectively pivot in response to COVID, there is now real opportunity to make smarter, more sustainable choices for a big impact. It’s great to see that happening with NHS
Scotland taking meaningful action – from its aim to be Net Zero for anaesthetic gases by 2027 with Scotland being the first country in Europe to stop the procurement of desflurane, to the environmental opportunities inherent in digital health, which the Scottish Government has identified. InnoScot Health has encouraged green thinking when providing real world project briefs to teams of Heriot-Watt University engineering students as part of a productive, ongoing innovation partnership. It also believes that education must be a foremost driver in unlocking sustainable solutions across the board. Properly educating the workforce in how to embed greener practices and help innovators make their mark completely underpins the 2040 target. Last year, the organisation shared innovation learnings drawn from rural affairs and climate change3
as part of its
series of healthcare webinars. Its focus was on how human health is closely connected to that of animals, plants, and the environment with clinicians pointing out interconnections. It also recently welcomed a new Net Zero strategy from NHS Education for Scotland (NES),4
healthcare. The strategy focuses on “how we mitigate
the impact of climate change in the way we use technology and innovation to support the development and delivery of our education and training for the Health and Social Care workforce”. By actively embedding a strong climate
emergency and sustainability culture in all areas of Scotland’s health service, through digital first delivery of that education and training, NES says it “can help to support the implementation of a consistent level of knowledge and best practice” and “contribute to NHS Scotland’s overall success” in achieving Net Zero. InnoScot Health fully supports the timely publication and the important focus on the workforce as enablers of change. It further champions regional initiatives
such as NHS Lothian Charity Climate Challenge grants5
which are open to all NHS Lothian staff
to take forward projects in their departments, wards or areas, helping to reduce the impact of healthcare activities on the environment. Since 2022, NHS Lothian Charity has awarded 46 grants totalling £135,000. The message is clear from all this year – Net
reflecting its own sustainable aims for
Zero has to be the goal by raising awareness of how people, businesses, and organisations can adapt to a low carbon lifestyle. Collectively, such initiatives are also an opportunity to encourage further action from NHS Scotland alongside the enduring everyday drive for healthcare excellence. InnoScot Health is committed to supporting that vital ongoing NHS focus by encouraging translation of ideas and innovations into viable products that improve patient care and ultimately help to make for a healthier population. Ideas fitting the innovation call could range from lower carbon devices to new greener packaging methods which can be composted or recycled at the end of its useful life rather than sent to landfill, or introducing equipment made from more durable materials that can be sterilised and re-used, repaired and upgraded. Essentially, addressing issues related to the
products with the highest environmental costs must be a priority. The climate emergency and sustainability annual report noted that the people who work within NHS Scotland “have fantastic ideas on how to make the NHS more environmentally and socially sustainable”. The sustainable opportunity is great, and the ability to change an organisation from the inside out with innovative ideas, while positively impacting not only patient health, but the health of the wider population too, is an empowering thought. CSJ
References 1.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/nhs- scotland-climate-emergency-sustainability- strategy-2022-2026/
2.
https://innoscot.com/sustainability-call 3.
https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=fvOaGTCp56k
4.
https://www.innoscot.com/news/net-zero- strategy-nhs-scotland-innoscot-health
5.
https://nhslothiancharity.org/apply-for- funding/climate-challenge-grants/
About the author
InnoScot Health works in partnership with NHS Scotland to identify, protect, develop and commercialise new innovations from healthcare professionals. Head of Innovation at InnoScot Health, Robert holds a BSc (Hons) Developmental Biology, a Ph.D. in Biology, specifically in genetics of plant cell division, and completed post-doctoral research fellowships in dendritic cell immunology. He then worked at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia developing novel stem cell-based therapies for kidney disease. Robert became Automation Manager for Swedish biotech company Cellartis, and then Intellectual Property Manager for French biotech company Cellectis. He held the position of Business Development Executive at the University of St Andrews, before joining InnoScot Health as Head of Innovation in 2014.
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