The NHS was the first healthcare system in the world to set an ambition to achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions, publishing Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service in 2020. Achieving this will require development and adoption of innovative greener products, changes to services and behaviour – including how we deliver and receive healthcare.
Innovation
Innovation is critically important to reducing our carbon emissions; we need new ideas and new ways of delivering care. Many innovations are designed specifically to support environmentally sustainable healthcare practices, and we are working with innovators to support uptake.
Green plans
We are supporting our local healthcare partners as they look to implement their green plans, using our unique role between the NHS and industry to horizon scan and identify evidence-based solutions to reduce environmental impact.
Sharing best practice
We believe shared learning and bringing together partners at all stages of their sustainability journey is critical to this mission. We are working with other AHSNs and other partners to deliver a series of sharing and learning events. Topics have included a showcase of exemplar NHS environmental strategies and using innovation to reduce the carbon impact of anaesthetic gases.
Case study
Widely adopted pre-eclampsia test has additional environmental benefits
Further information
Amelia James, Environmental Sustainability Lead for the Oxford and Kent Surrey Sussex AHSNs