Sustainable healthcare
can change the patient pathway. Through the utilisation of diagnostic and digital technologies, patients can be diagnosed earlier, meaning they receive treatment sooner and use less resources. Hospital visits are incredibly resource and energy intensive, so prevention is key to reducing this impact.”
A pandemic that shifted healthcare practices The COVID-19 pandemic came with its unique set of challenges – but it also showed how technology can be used to manage our health, with everything from contract tracing to remote GP consultations quickly becoming the norm. When it comes to sustainability, this accelerated landscape can be used to our advantage, Addie says: “Healthcare changed in nature throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The general public conducted their own diagnostic tests at home in the form of lateral flow tests, we moved to remote triage for many patients and remote monitoring for continued care in the home. “The pandemic has also led to a significant
increase in the use of digital health technologies such as wearable devices and mobile apps, which have been used to support contact tracing efforts. Although born from necessity and crisis, we can take these lessons and use them to reduce the resource burden on hospitals, in turn reducing our environmental impact.” The increasing use of remote consultations, for instance, is already helping to reduce the need for travel and physical appointments, which helps to cut transportation-related emissions. This reduces the carbon footprint of the NHS, as well as the patients’. Meanwhile, health monitoring apps and wearables, now used by about 40% and 35% of adults respectively,3
are being used to
help encourage healthy behaviours and lifestyle changes, such as monitoring physical activity, sleep and diet, while supporting chronic disease management – a significant area of challenge and one that contributes to significant healthcare costs, increased demand for healthcare services, and a higher burden on healthcare resources.
The importance of patient safety It is clear that HealthTech is closely embedded in the NHS’s sustainability agenda – and by leveraging these technologies – from remote consultations to electronic health records – the NHS can reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable healthcare system. To support this vision, the NHS has produced a Net Zero Supplier Roadmap which lays out a process towards achieving a net zero healthcare system by 2045 – and which all suppliers will need to abide by in order to keep supplying to the NHS. The roadmap has many implications for manufacturers of health technology. The first milestone of the Roadmap came
into effect In April 2022, which sees a minimum of 10% Net Zero and social value weighting included in all NHS procurement. The latest milestone recently came into force on 1 April 2023, requiring all contracts above £5 million per annum to produce a carbon reduction plan (CRP) in line with PPN 06/21 guidance.
Although sustainability is an important goal, one thing that Addie wants to stress is that it
Assessing emissions holistically, the NHS has outlined that one of its greatest areas of opportunity, and challenge, in emissions reductions, lies in the supply chain. As a key part of the NHS’s supply chain, the UK’s HealthTech industry will be a significant player in the decarbonisation challenge. Addie MacGregor, sustainability executive, ABHI.
cannot be achieved at the expense of patient safety – which remains at the heart of health technology. In fact, prioritising patient safety can lead to greater efficiency and sustainability in the long run.
Addie adds: “Sustainability is an area of
increasing significance, and will continue to be in the years and decades ahead. However, it is crucial to recognise that patient safety is always a priority that can never be forgotten, and any initiatives to promote sustainability must not come at the expense of patient safety – suppliers of HealthTech cannot simply replace the materials they use in products. If not designed, tested, and implemented properly, health technology can lead to errors that can be significant and even life-threatening. She adds: “The NHS roadmap is positive but ambitious. Many organisations are measuring their carbon emissions or considering what happens to their products at end-of-life for the first time. As a result, the industry needs funding and guidance on areas that may previously not have been researched, such as recyclability of materials, and redesigning products for a circular economy.”
Supporting a circular economy One company which has recently stepped up its efforts on the sustainability front is ABHI member, Surgical Holdings – a circular economy focused manufacturer, distributor and repairer of high-quality surgical instrumentation. The company was recently nominated in the latest round of ABHI’s ‘Innovation in HealthTech: Recognising Excellence’ campaign for its circular economy approach, helping operating theatres across the UK to cut their carbon footprint. Operating rooms are notorious for
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