Introduction
In October 2020, the Greener NHS National Programme published its strategy, aimed at delivering a net-zero national health service. This highlighted that without mitigating actions, climate change will disrupt care, with poor environmental health contributing to major diseases, including cardiac problems, asthma and cancer.
Our aim is to be a net-zero organisation carbon neutral organisation by 2030, and Net Zero by 2035, having reduced our carbon footprint by 50% by the end of this decade. We intend to deliver sustainable primary care services for the benefit of the populations we serve in Suffolk. Our Green Plan guides our sustainability programmes so that we can become a greener, more environmentally friendly organisation in the future.
To accomplish this, we have a Green Lead who has responsibility for defining a sustainability strategy, and for identifying projects that will help us to deliver this target.
Energy management
Our Business Manager is responsible for improving energy efficiency, security of supply, and making sure that the Partnership is billed correctly for the energy and water we use.
He is supported by an administrator who is responsible for recording consumption and reporting any unusual usage.
Travel planning
We carry out surveys with our staff every year to establish how they get to work, and what we can do to help them shift to active travel and public transport or other more sustainable travel methods, thus reducing our travel related emissions.
We provide schemes to support staff wishing to make a change to cycling, to car-share, or to switch to public transport. We also actively encourage those who cannot avoid driving to switch to battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Decarbonisation
We operate from several buildings, built at different times meaning the thermal efficiency varies. We (in conjunction with our landlords) are developing a plan to minimise the carbon emissions we produce related to heating, lighting and cooling our buildings.
Our carbon reduction plan (to be finalised in 2026) will incorporate changes to work practices and equipment to further improve the energy efficiency of how we provide our treatments and services.
Our commitment to sustainability
We recognise the huge challenges that climate change, air pollution and waste present to the people of Suffolk and beyond.
As a local healthcare provider in Suffolk, we recognise that it is essential that we improve our contribution to climate change and embed sustainability throughout each aspect of our organisation to reduce risks to the health of our population.
Our Green Plan will act as the framework for sustainability strategies across our Organisation.
Our plan will contribute to the delivery of the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan, to make sure that we are compliant with the latest legislation and enable us to become a more sustainable organisation.
Our key areas of focus are:
- People and leadership
- Sustainable models of care
- Digital transformation
- Travel and transport
- Estates and facilities
- Medicines.
Sustainability targets and drivers
All our commitments (developed through the Green Impact for Health Toolkit) are in-line with the requirements of social value model outcome 4a, supporting working towards net zero, using clean energy, and green technologies. Our commitments are fully aligned with the SNEE ICS Green Plan, particularly in its priorities on inhaler decarbonisation, low-carbon care models, green estates, and active travel. We will work to embed sustainability within our procurement decisions and practices.
To meet this challenge
We are focussing on our sustainable action initiatives to deliver change whilst maintaining high quality care to our patients. Each project is evaluated from a clinical, financial and environmental perspective to assess the potential benefits and risks.
When designing programmes, we always follow the philosophy of Reduce, Re-use, Recycle to ensure sustainability is a priority.
