Climate change is the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century.
The link between planetary health and human health is clear – the climate emergency is a health emergency. Therefore, by addressing climate change and making our planet a healthier place to live, we will be reducing unnecessary and avoidable deaths.
In October 2020, the NHS became the world’s first health service to commit to reaching carbon net zero and in July 2022 became the first health system to embed net zero into legislation.
The NHS currently accounts for around 4% of national carbon emissions and therefore we have a responsibility to address this. The drive towards net zero will require significant behaviour change, from a system wide level, all the way down to individuals.
Sustainability Strategy
In 2021 we launched the LUHFT Sustainability Strategy, which forms our Trust 'Green Plan'. This focuses on two overarching objectives:
- We will reduce our carbon footprint by 50% by 2025
- As an anchor institution, be a collaborative partner who positively contributes to our community.
A breakdown of some of our work under these two objectives can be found in our intranet pages to the right.
All elements of the strategy are underpinned by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted by the United Nations in 2015. The 17 goals and 169 targets provide a blueprint to a more sustainable future by addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality and climate change.
We're in the process of updating the strategy and it's due out later in 2024.
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We have a team Twitter - @GreenerLUHFT. Please follow to keep up to date with news and team activities.
We hosted our first LUHFT Sustainability Awards on 7th September 2023!
The Sustainability Awards recognise the achievements of our staff and volunteers across the Trust who embrace sustainability within their workplace and go the extra mile to help the Trust to improve its environmental impact.
This is in both clinical and non-clinical settings and covering a range of themes, including working with local community groups to improve services, improving access to green space and delivering quality improvements with sustainability at the core.
2023 Award Winners
Engagement - Sam Clark and Debbie Lankstead - Gloves off campaign
Sam, Debbie and the team have done some amazing work rolling out the Gloves off campaign at LUHFT. This been with auditing the use of plastic gloves in our ITU and an excellent approach to reducing plastic glove and apron use. This is due to be rolled out across the Trust and his will have a huge impact on plastic waste potentially saving millions of plastic gloves and aprons and dozens of tonnes of plastic every year.
Innovation - Broadgreen Day Case Treatment Room - Local anaesthetic hand surgery: Safe, efficient sustainable orthopaedics
Hand surgery cases being done under local anaesthetic, rather the general providing a multitude of benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, reduction in the use of consumables and associated waste, reduced water use due to changed hand washing practices saving over 200 litres per list, reduction in required staffing and saving time for patients.
Net Zero and Carbon Reduction - Estates and Facilities Team - Tower Block Cladding Project at Aintree
£15m Tower Block cladding project consisting of 12,000m2 of new windows and aluminium rainscreen cladding, adding solar reflections and natural ventilation, extending the lifespan of the building of by up to 30 years. Saving approximately 163 tonnes CO2e per year, along with the avoided carbon of demolition and a new construction.
Partnerships - Friends of Bluebell Woods
The Friends of Bluebell Woods is a long established voluntary group that care for the Trust‘s most important ecological site. They help keep the site free of litter, carry out conservation tasks and ensure footpaths are accessible all year. They‘ve welcomed and worked with Project Search Interns and student nurses, as well as external organisations including Liverpool City Council and the Mersey Rivers Trust.
Sustainable Champion - Dr Leanne Callaghan
Leanne is one of our consultant anaesthetists at Aintree and has long been proactive in championing sustainability in Aintree theatres. She has been pivotal to the progress made over the last few years, including the move away desflurane at Aintree and introducing sustainable anaesthetics trainee roles. She has been determined and encouraged colleagues to adopt more sustainable practices.
Waste and Plastics - Broadgreen Theatre Team - Neptune Fluid Management System in Broadgreen Theatres
Neptune Clinical Waste Fluid Management system is currently on trial at Broadgreen theatres .The system collects waste fluid used intra-operatively and then is disposed of directly into the hospital waste system, avoiding the use of "Vac Sax" liners, therefore reducing plastic clinical waste created in the operating theatre. Theatre staff have targeted particular cases within theatres that would use a high level of plastic waste, to maximise the impact of the trial. Over the 3 months, the trial is expected to prevent between 500-700 plastic liners being disposed by the Trust.
Special Recognition - Dr Nikhil Sharma
Alongside Mr. Vishwanath Hanchanale, Nikhil was co-founder and co-chair of the Trust‘s Clinical Sustainability Group from its inauguration in March 2022 until August 2023. Nikhil‘s support and guidance as chair during this time was essential to the groups successful formation. Nikhil has been a vocal champion and helped raise the profile of clinical sustainability within the Trust. Although Nikhil has stepped down as chair recently due to other commitments, he continues to play an active role in the group and be a leader for change and sustainable improvement.
