"The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare supports clinicians to take a leading role in galvanising co-ordinated, systematic and evidence based action for sustainable healthcare.
Their sustainable specialties programmes and their work in medical education are excellent examples of what clinicians need to help them take exemplary action for tomorrow whilst continuing to deliver high quality care for today.
Such practical work complements the role of the NHS Sustainable Development Unit (SDU)... ...engaging with NHS organisations and staff to ensure the NHS grasps the benefits of acting sustainably, therefore saving money and improving the quality of healthcare."
Dr David Pencheon
Director, NHS Sustainable Development Unit
CSH clinical transformation programmes:
Sustainable Specialties | Sustainable Healthcare Education
CSH clinical transformation resources:
Online networks | Mapping | SHEBA | Carbon Addict | How-to…
Less of the same is not the answer
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is working with clinical specialties to transform healthcare for a sustainable future.
Analysis of the NHS carbon footprint shows that even if hospitals were fully powered by renewable energy, total emissions would only be reduced by one-fifth. Other solutions are needed to tackle the 18% of carbon arising from staff and patient travel, or the 60% from purchased goods and services (mainly pharmaceuticals and medical supplies).
As the NHS commits itself to meet the Climate Change Act’s target of 80% carbon reduction by 2050, one thing is clear: less of the same is not the answer. A transformation in clinical practice itself is required. In order to provide care at just 10 or 20% of current carbon costs, health services must display far greater rigour in identifying and pursuing value to patients, while discontinuing those interventions and activities which provide minimal benefit to patient outcome.
In designing health systems of the future, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare uses four principles of sustainable clinical practice:
- Prevention
- Patient partnership – supporting patients to take a greater role in managing their care
- Leaner care pathways
- A choice of low carbon treatment alternatives.
To read more about our model for transformation of clinical practice click here or see "The Sustainable Physician" - opinion piece by Dr Frances Mortimer published in Clinical Medicine 2010, Vol 10, No 2: 110–11.