Sustainable healthcare
being a significant source of greenhouse gas production – accounting for a quarter of the emissions from a typical Trust.4
members are well informed on this important issue.
Reducing those
emissions is critical to help the NHS meet its climate targets –an important feat, considering
it is responsible for 20 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, over half of which is linked to procured goods.5
The recently published
‘Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist’ recognises the need to act collectively to tackle this challenge. Established in 1988, Surgical Holdings employs 50+ people at its manufacturing facility in Southend-on-Sea. The company has integrated a circular economy solution, which links sales of new products and services. Reusable instrumentation, supported with a robust repair and refurbishment service, ensures the longevity of their devices. This utilises the in-house skills of instrument makers and facilitates development of the local economy through further employment of apprentices and technicians, thus adding social value. Repairing and refurbishing devices can also provide cost reduction versus the purchase of new devices. NHS and private hospital staff have access to
the Surgical Holdings’ repairs portal, ‘Surgifix’, which enables them to enter repairs required, and alerts Surgical Holdings, which facilitates trending of repair issues. This is underpinned through a CPD accredited educational platform, to assist in education of staff who are handling and potentially misusing equipment. Dan Coole, managing director of Surgical Holdings, said: “The cost of maintaining new instruments can be high, especially for specialised or complex instruments. “Choosing to repair over replace isn’t just
green; it also helps inject more cash back into our health system, allowing hospitals to save money on replacement costs and allocate their budgets more effectively.”
Reflecting on the changing healthcare landscape One year on, and a lot has changed, Addie says. Interest in the sustainability ambitions of the NHS has grown significantly, both nationally and internationally, and even in the space of just one year, there is a much greater understanding of the impact healthcare has not just on people, but the planet itself. “It is fair to say that a lot has happened over the past year. At ABHI, we have been leading a programme of work to aid members, and to ensure that those enacting policy understand how HealthTech can deliver care in a more sustainable fashion.
“Within the last year we have also seen NHS England employ sustainability leads in every
62
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I July 2023 Addie concludes: “Reducing emissions
in a sector such as ours is not without its challenges, and this is something we are continuing to remind stakeholders of, so that the requirements of suppliers are proportionate. Regulatory requirements, patient safety and the necessity of an unhindered supply of HealthTech in order to save lives, are all factors that most sectors do not have to overcome. Despite this, the industry is working hard with stakeholders to reach these goals, and the shift is positive. Things are moving in the right direction, and the levels of collaboration seen across sectors, specialties and countries, bode well for the future, and for the positive impact that HealthTech can bring.”
CSJ
Trust, and there are similar figures in the devolved nations and NHS Supply Chain. This increase of dedicated sustainability resource, within the health system, will be a positive driver in enabling the NHS to implement the sustainable change it hopes to see, and we are developing our own relationships with these leads accordingly.” Over the past year, ABHI – as the leading industry trade association for the UK HealthTech industry – has ramped up its programme of activity to support its members, made up of small start-ups to large multinationals across the UK’s health technology landscape, understand how they can meet the requirements of the NHS Roadmap and align with its vision for a greener future. The organisation has partnered with Arup, a London-based consultancy dedicated to sustainable development, to publish a ‘Sustainability Framework for Action’ for members, intended as a helpful guide, based on research collected from member organisations, to break down the requirements and concepts around sustainability. It has also published a ‘Becoming Carbon
Literate Series’ to take a closer look at the key sustainability concepts, such as the Social Value Model and Carbon reduction plans (CRPs) and the circular economy model – taking them from ‘buzz word’ to actionable steps. Through its member-led Sustainability Group, ABHI is also working to ensure the industry, as a whole, is not only educated on the broader sustainability agenda but, importantly, by working with the NHS, to ensure the journey is not a one-sided conversation. The organisation is now working closely with NHS England for the next milestone on the roadmap and has shared webinars and training from Government and the NHS, to ensure
References 1
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/ article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30271-0/fulltext
2
https://www.fph.org.uk/media/3126/k9-fph- sig-nhs-carbon-footprint-final.pdf
3
https://mhealthintelligence.com/news/over- a-third-of-adults-use-health-apps-wearables- in-2023-up-from-2018#:~:text=According%20 to%20new%20survey%20results,at%20least%20 once%20a%20day.
4
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england- birmingham-61567187
5
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/time- think-differently/trends-sustainable-services
Addie MacGregor
After studying a Masters in Sustainability and Management at Royal Holloway, Addie MacGregor became ABHI’s first sustainability executive, joining the Association in 2022 to lead on this critical agenda. Addie provides support to the membership and works with stakeholders to ensure the role of sustainability within HealthTech is recognised. In managing ABHI’s Sustainability Group, Addie is helping the industry to tackle the opportunities and challenges that exist on such a complex topic.
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