Health Education England: Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare (ESH) programme

Summary

NHS England has committed to reducing its direct emissions to ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2040, with most of the reduction by 2030. There are similar initiatives underway in Wales and Scotland.

The Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare (ESH) programme was developed with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare and the HEE Northeast Faculty of Sustainable Healthcare to provide the healthcare workforce with the knowledge and skills to deliver healthcare for financial, social and environmental sustainability.

Content

There are 3 sessions in the Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare programme, all presented through key concepts and case studies. Sessions 1 and 2 are suitable for all in the NHS healthcare workforce.

1. Building a Net Zero NHS

An introduction to environmentally sustainable healthcare.

By the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• describe how the climate emergency affects health.
• explain the relevance of the NHS Net Zero plan to their work.
• identify case studies that reduce waste and pollution.

2. Environmental Sustainability in Quality Improvement

Integrating environmental, social and financial considerations into quality improvement.

By the end of the session learners will be able to:

• recognise sustainability as a domain of quality.
• describe how sustainability adds value to each step of a QI process.
• identify the steps for embedding sustainability into quality improvement.
• identify appropriate resources for undertaking a sustainable QI project.

3. Environmental Sustainability in Dentistry

Applying environmental sustainability principles and practices to the dental setting.