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Content Article
RPS Greener Pharmacy Toolkit
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Climate change/sustainability
The new Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Greener Pharmacy Toolkit is easy to use and provides prompts to introduce more sustainable practices to reduce emissions, improve patient care, prevent ill health, tackle medicines waste and achieve efficiency savings. The Greener Pharmacy Toolkit is a pioneering digital self-assessment tool designed to help community and hospital pharmacy teams take practical action to reduce the environmental impact of pharmacy services, pharmaceutical care and medicines, while supporting patient care. The toolkit outlines three levels of accreditation—bronze, silver, and gold—based on various actions that pharmacy staff can voluntarily take to make their pharmacies more sustainable. Achieving the target accreditation triggers a certificate, which can be displayed to demonstrate the pharmacy’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Commissioned by NHS England and supported by Greener NHS, the toolkit is free and open access, available for use by hospital and community pharmacy teams throughout Great Britain. The digital toolkit and accompanying guidance aligns closely with RPS’ work on sustainability which recognises the impact of climate change on health. -
Content Article
The 7th Global Ministerial Summit for Patient Safety, organised by the Department of Health of the Republic of the Philippines and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), takes place on 3-4 April 2025 in Manila. This event focuses on advancing international efforts to improve healthcare quality and safeguard patients worldwide. It brings together global leaders, experts and stakeholders to discuss and shape the future of patient safety. Global Ministerial Summits on Patient Safety aim to drive forward the global patient safety movement. Beginning in 2016, they have helped to keep patient safety high on policy makers’ agendas and helped the build the momentum needed to create the first World Health Organization (WHO) Global Patient Safety Action Plan, published in August 2021. This year’s Summit in Manilla seeks to support the implementation of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan, embracing the theme "Weaving Strengths for the Future of Patient Safety Throughout the Healthcare Continuum." The event highlights the current implementation progress, showcasing diverse approaches and strategic plans adopted by countries. The Summit will include discussions around: The role of patient engagement in bridging patient safety gaps. Diagnostic safety. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and technology for patient safety. Creating psychologically safe and healthy workplaces. Investing in patient safety for sustainable healthcare. There will be sessions across the two days looking at each of these issues, within the broader context of integrating patient safety in all aspects of healthcare delivery and at all levels of care as a foundation of resilient and sustainable healthcare systems. To support the Global Ministerial Summit, Patient Safety Learning has pulled together some key resources from the hub around these key themes being discussed at the Summit. Patient engagement 1 WHO: Patient safety rights charter The Patient safety rights charter is a key resource intended to support the implementation of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030: Towards eliminating avoidable harm in health care. The Charter aims to outline patients’ rights in the context of safety and promotes the upholding of these rights, as established by international human rights standards, for everyone, everywhere, at all times. 2 Championing the patient voice: a recent discussion with the Patient Safety Commissioner at the Patient Safety Partners Network The role of Patient Safety Commissioner for England was created by the UK Government after a recommendation from the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, chaired by Baroness Julia Cumberlege. The Patient Safety Commissioner acts as a champion for patients, leading a drive to improve the safety of medicines and medical devices. This blog provides an overview of a Patient Safety Partners Network meeting where members were joined by Professor Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner for England. 3 Providing patient-safe care begins with asking and listening... really listening! Dan Cohen is an international consultant in patient safety and clinical risk management, and a Trustee for Patient Safety Learning. In this blog, Dan talks about how patient-safe care is all about collaborating and listening to your patients to find out what really matters to them. He illustrates this in a case study of his own personal experience whilst working as a clinician in the USA. Diagnostic safety 4 The economics of diagnostic safety Diagnosis is complex and iterative, therefore liable to error in accurately and timely identifying underlying health problems, and communicating these to patients. Up to 15% of diagnoses are estimated to be inaccurate, delayed or wrong. Diagnostic errors negatively impact patient outcomes and increase use of healthcare resources. This Health Working Paper from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines the scope of diagnostic error and illustrates the burden of diagnostic error in commonly diagnosed conditions. It also estimates the direct costs of diagnostic error and provides policy options to improve diagnostic safety. 5 Improving diagnostic safety in surgery: A blog by Anna Paisley Good outcomes for surgical patients require accurate, timely and well-communicated diagnoses. In this blog, Anna Paisley, a Consultant Upper GI Surgeon, talks about the challenges to safe surgical diagnosis and shares some of the strategies available to mitigate these challenges and aid safer, more timely diagnosis. 6 How early diagnosis saves lives: case study on aortic dissection In this blog, The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust explains why timely and accurate diagnosis of aortic dissection is critical for saving lives. By sharing Martin’s recovery story, they illustrate the positive impact of prompt testing and treatment. The blog highlights the need to improve patient safety relating to aortic dissection, calling for increased education and awareness among healthcare professionals; improved clinical guidelines and protocols; and heightened vigilance in recognising and responding to the symptoms of aortic dissection. Artificial intelligence (AI) and technology 7 Patient Safety and Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges for Care Delivery (IHI Lucian Leape Institute) In January 2024, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Lucian Leape Institute convened an expert panel to explore the promise and potential risks for patient safety from generative artificial intelligence (genAI). The report that followed summarises three user cases that highlight areas where genAI could significantly impact patient safety: in documentation support, clinical decision support and patient-facing chatbots. 8 AI in healthcare translation: balancing risk with opportunity In an increasingly global healthcare environment, with patients and professionals from many different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, precision in medical document translation is key. In this blog, Melanie Cole, Translations Coordinator at EIDO Systems International, talks about the challenges, risks and opportunities for using AI in healthcare translation. 9 Integrated human-centred AI in clinical practice: A guide for health and social care professionals This is a guide for designers, developers and users of AI in healthcare. It outlines general principles health and social care professionals should consider, a case study drawn from clinical practice and a directory of resources to find out more. It includes key questions that clinicians and AI developers need to answer together to ensure the best possible outcomes. It follows on from the CIEHF's White Paper, Human Factors in Healthcare AI, which sets out a human factors perspective on the use of AI applications in healthcare. Psychological safety 10 Speak up for Safety: A new workshop for healthcare staff about the importance of Just Culture The culture of a healthcare organisation can determine how safe its staff members feel to raise concerns about patient safety. Bella Knaapen, Surgical Support Governance & Risk Management Facilitator and Sarah Leeks, Senior Health & Wellbeing Practitioner at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have developed ‘Speak Up For Safety’, a Just Culture training workshop that aims to help staff, at all levels, understand the importance of creating an environment that encourages people to share concerns and feedback. 11 Balancing care: The psychological impact of ensuring patient safety In this blog, Leah Bowden, a patient safety specialist, reflects on the impact her job has on her mental health and family life. She discusses why there needs to be specialised clinical supervision for staff involved in reviewing patient safety incidents and how organisations need to come together to identify ways we can support our patient safety teams. 12 Amy Edmonson: The importance of psychological safety As a leader how can you foster a work environment where people feel safe to speak up, share new ideas and work in innovative ways? In this video from the Kings Fund, Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, talks about the importance of psychological safety in health and care and what leaders can do to create it. Sustainability 13 The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh: Green Theatre Checklist Healthcare services globally have a large carbon footprint, accounting for 4-5% of total carbon emissions. Surgery is particularly carbon intensive, with a typical single operation estimated to generate between 150-170kgCO2e, equivalent to driving 450 miles in an average petrol car. The UK and Ireland surgical colleges have recognised that it is imperative for us to act collectively and urgently to address this issue. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh have collated a compendium of peer-reviewed evidence, guidelines and policies that inform the interventions included in the Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist. This compendium should support members of the surgical team to introduce changes in their own operating departments. 14 Communicating on climate change and health: Toolkit for health professionals Communicating the health risks of climate change and the health benefits of climate solutions is both necessary and helpful. Health professionals are well-placed to play a unique role in helping their communities understand climate change, protect themselves, and realize the health benefits of climate solutions. This toolkit from WHO aims to help health professionals effectively communicate about climate change and health. 15 Climate change: why it needs to be on every Trust's agenda The NHS has declared climate change a health emergency, but are trust leaders and healthcare staff talking and acting on this? Angela Hayes, Clinical Lead Sustainability at the Christie Foundation Trust and a hub Topic leader, discusses climate change and the impact it has on all of our lives and health. She believes healthcare professionals have a moral duty to act, to protect and improve public health, and should demand stronger action in tackling climate change. If you would like to write a blog or have a resource to share on any of the themes highlighted in this blog, please get in touch. Contact the hub team at [email protected] to discuss further. -
Content ArticleThe catastrophic wildfires that devastated Los Angeles County in January 2025 were caused by an unprecedented combination of extreme weather conditions and urban vulnerability. Within a span of hours, the Palisades and Eaton fires, propelled by record-breaking Santa Ana winds reaching 150 miles per hour, consumed more than 37,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures and claimed 29 lives. The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires present new challenges to healthcare systems, particularly in regions prone to these disasters. Staffing shortages, burnout and disaster fatigue are all major issues. This analysis in JAMA examines important aspects of health care system response during wildfire emergencies, offering evidence-based recommendations for institutional preparedness and adaptation.
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EventuntilToday, it is widely recognised that human health is intimately connected to the health of the planet. But how has this understanding come about? Join historian Deborah Coen and nursing professor Teddie Potter (Center for Planetary Health and Environmental Justice) to explore the past, present and future of global climate change and planetary health. Register
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Content ArticlePublished every 4 years to coincide with federal leadership transitions, the National Academy of Medicine’s Vital Directions for Health and Health Care series analyses the top health policy needs for the nation. The 2025 edition, published in Health Affairs, presents an expert overview of six key priorities: transforming health care payment and delivery; integrating AI into health care; modernising public health; addressing the health impacts of climate change; improving women’s health; and advancing the biomedical research enterprise. As leaders inside and outside government navigate complex challenges, the Vital Directions series provides actionable, evidence-based guidance. From Laggard To Leader: Why Health Care In The United States Is Failing, And How To Fix It Artificial Intelligence In Health And Health Care: Priorities For Action Four Opportunities To Revitalize The US Biomedical Research Enterprise Updating US Public Health For Healthier Communities Critical Steps To Address Climate, Health, And Equity New Directions For Women’s Health: Expanding Understanding, Improving Research, Addressing Workforce Limitation
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Content ArticleClimate change is leading to a rise in heat-related illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and numerous negative impacts on patients’ physical and mental health outcomes. Concurrently, healthcare contributes about 4.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Low-value care, such as overtesting and overdiagnosis, contributes to unnecessary emissions. This review describes diagnostic excellence in the context of climate change and focus on two topics. First, climate change is affecting health, leading to the emergence of certain diseases, some of which are new, while others are increasing in prevalence and/or becoming more widespread. These conditions will require timely and accurate diagnosis by clinicians who may not be used to diagnosing them. Second, diagnostic quality issues, such as overtesting and overdiagnosis, contribute to climate change through unnecessary emissions and waste and should be targeted for interventions. The review also highlight implications for clinical practice, research, and policy. The findings call for efforts to engage healthcare professionals and policymakers in understanding the urgent implications for diagnosis in the context of climate change and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions to enhance both patient and planetary outcomes.
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News Article
Miscarriages due to climate crisis a ‘blind spot’ in action plans – report
Patient_Safety_Learning posted a news article in News
Miscarriages, premature babies and harm to mothers caused by the climate crisis are a “blind spot” in action plans, according to a report aimed at the decision-makers who will attend the Cop29 summit in November. Read full article Source: Guardian, 28 October 2024 -
Event
ISQua 2024
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
untilTogether with the Türkiye Health Care Quality and Accreditation Institute (TUSKA) and the Ministry of Health, Türkiye, ISQua is delighted to host their 40th International Conference in Istanbul. The theme for the 2024 conference is 'Health for People and Planet: Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future'. It will address the continued challenges of making person-centred care part of the healthcare system, as well as addressing some of the hot topics that matter most in a rapidly changing world. Issues such as environmental challenges, reducing the healthcare sector's carbon footprint, and ensuring the long-term resilience of healthcare will be addressed at the conference. It will also examine the potentials and pitfalls of AI and Digital Transformation in healthcare, and how it can revolutionise healthcare and enable better patient engagement. Further information -
Event
IHI Forum
Sam posted an event in Community Calendar
untilThe IHI Forum is a four-day conference that has been the home of quality improvement in health care for more than 30 years. Dedicated improvement professionals from across the globe will be convening to tackle health care's most pressing challenges: improvement capability, patient and workforce safety, equity, climate change, artificial intelligence, and more. Register -
Community Post
Better use of data for medication safety in hospitals
Kenny Fraser posted a topic in Medicine management
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NHS hospital staff spend countless hours capturing data in electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems. Yet that data remains difficult to access and use to support patient care. This is a tremendous opportunity to improve patient safety, drive efficiencies and save time for frontline staff. I have just published a post about this challenge and Triscribe's solution. I would love to hear any comments or feedback on the topic... How could we use this information better? What are hospitals already doing? Where are the gaps? Thanks- Posted
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Content ArticleThe latest Lancet Countdown report underscores the imperative for a health-centred response in a world facing irreversible harms. Climate inaction is costing lives and livelihoods today, with new global projections revealing the grave and mounting threat to health of further delayed action on climate change. But bold climate action could offer a lifeline for health. This year’s report launches just weeks before the COP28 which has a health focus for the first time. The findings underscore the opportunity of a lifetime that COP could help deliver – through commitments and action to accelerate a just transition. Without profound and swift mitigation to tackle the root causes of climate change and to support adaptation efforts, the health of humanity is at grave risk. Our 2023 Report tracks the relationship between health and climate change across five key domains and 47 indicators, providing the most up-to-date assessment of the links between health and climate change.
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Content ArticleThe climate and ecological crises are both driven by human activities. They each have catastrophic implications for human health and their strong interconnection creates a vicious circle where each is reinforced by the other. A stable natural environment is critical for limiting global warming and achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conversely, the loss of biodiversity is a major threat to human, animal, and environmental health. In order to mitigate harm and maximise the co-benefits of action, it is important that policies tackle both climate change and biodiversity loss together. This policy report by the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, describes the impacts of biodiversity loss on land and oceans for human health and puts forward recommendations to reduce biodiversity loss, restore nature, and achieve climate goals for the benefit of health.
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Content ArticleAccording to the World Health Organization, humanity faces its greatest ever threat: the climate and ecological crisis. Healthcare services globally have a large carbon footprint, accounting for 4-5% of total carbon emissions. Surgery is particularly carbon intensive, with a typical single operation estimated to generate between 150-170kgCO2e, equivalent to driving 450 miles in an average petrol car. The UK and Ireland surgical colleges have recognised that it is imperative for us to act collectively and urgently to address this issue. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh have collated a compendium of peer-reviewed evidence, guidelines and policies that inform the interventions included in the Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist. This compendium should support members of the surgical team to introduce changes in their own operating departments. The recommendations apply the principles of sustainable quality improvement in healthcare, which aim to achieve the “triple bottom line” of environmental, social and economic impacts. How to use the checklist The checklist is divided into four sections, the first dedicated to anaesthetic care, and the subsequent three looking at preparation for surgery, intra-operative practice and post-operative measures. It is suggested the checklist is initially used at the daily brief at the start of an operating list, as an aide-memoire for the team of the modifications that could be applied there and then. Once these practices become embedded into practice, then the checklist may be used less frequently. At present, some theatres will lack the infrastructure required to enact all the suggested interventions and so the checklist can serve as a roadmap for discussion with management, or at departmental meetings, to guide required changes. Finally, if completed regularly, the checklist could also be used as a scorecard to monitor progress.
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News Article
WHO launches new toolkit empowering health professionals to tackle climate change
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Climate change presents one of the most significant global health challenges and is already negatively affecting communities worldwide. Communicating the health risks of climate change and the health benefits of climate solutions is both necessary and helpful. To support this, the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with partners has developed a new toolkit designed to equip health and care workers with the knowledge and confidence to effectively communicate about climate change and health. The toolkit aims to fill the gaps in knowledge and action among health and care workers – all those who are engaged in actions with the primary intent of enhancing health, as well as those occupations in academic, management and scientific roles. Despite their recognized trustworthiness and efficacy as health communicators, many health and care workers might not be fully equipped to discuss climate change and its health implications. This toolkit seeks to change that narrative. “Health and care workers play a key role in addressing climate change as a health crisis. Their unique position enables them to raise awareness, advocate for policy changes, and empower communities to mitigate and adapt to climate change,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health. “By engaging in dialogue and action, health and care workers can catalyse efforts to safeguard human health as well as ensuring a resilient and sustainable future for all.” Read full story Source: WHO, 22 March 2024 -
News Article
Overheating and flooding at hospitals in England ‘pose threat to patient safety’
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Record levels of overheating and a sharp rise in flooding at England’s hospitals are putting vulnerable patients at risk, figures show. Analysis of NHS data by the Liberal Democrats found that the number of health trusts reporting overheating in clinical areas had doubled compared with six years ago, and floods had increased by nearly 60% from last year. An overheating incident is logged when an occupied ward or clinical area’s daily maximum temperature exceeds 26C, the temperature at which some patients become unable to cool themselves effectively. The latest government figures show that in the summer of 2022 there were an estimated 2,985 excess deaths due to heatwaves, the highest number on record. Heatwaves also forced a fifth of UK hospitals to cancel operations. The number of serious flooding incidents, where water caused disruption such as by breaching a building or flooding a road, rose from 176 to 279. The climate crisis is expected to increase these risks to hospitals and patients. Helen Buckingham, the director of strategy at the Nuffield Trust, said: “These figures are a cause for real concern about the resilience of the NHS’s estate to the growing threat from extreme weather in the UK. As temperatures have climbed, so too have the number of overheating incidents in NHS hospitals.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 27 November 2023 -
Event
Sustainability webinar - Safety For All
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
untilClimate change has been recognised as the “biggest global health threat of the 21st Century”. Healthcare is one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and there are steps which healthcare professionals and organisations can and should be taking to tackle this issue. In 2020, the NHS set out a bold ambition to become the world’s first carbon net zero national health system by 2045. The Safety For All campaign is hosting a webinar on the topic of sustainability where attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the Chair of the ABHI’s Sustainability Group and Chair of the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition. The webinar is free to attend and open to everyone with an interest in the importance of sustainability in healthcare. Speakers: Michelle Sullivan and Fiona Adshead. Register- Posted
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Event
Delivering greener care for a healthier future
Sam posted an event in Community Calendar
ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to the upcoming junior doctors industrial action, this event was originally 14 July but has been postponed to 10 October. Meeting the NHS' net zero emission targets requires carbon reductions across patient pathways. Achieving this means delivering high quality, evidence based, low carbon care to our patients. Clinicians are a vital part of the innovation, adoption, and embedding of low carbon practices which prioritise high quality patient care. The BMJ and the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change are hosting a new one-day conference which will focus on reducing the carbon impact of services across the health and care system, and the role that every healthcare professional can play in delivering a net zero NHS. Due to popular demand the event will be both an in-person and virtual event. You can attend virtually, via a live feed, or add your name to the waiting list to attend in-person on 14 July at BMA House, London. Register -
EventuntilGlobal healthcare sectors contribute significantly to climate change. Healthcare makes up more than 4% net global climate emissions. If it were a country, it would be the fifth-largest climate polluter on the planet. Most health sector emissions, up to 70% are embedded in the supply chain, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices. In globalised supply chain contexts, it would not be wise for any single nation to set standards that few others intend to follow. Now that the UK is a single market in a global marketplace, it is more important than ever that the UK’s leaders find consensus among their peers before ushering in new supplier rules and regulations. Without international alignment, the UK risks multinational corporations retreating from the NHS while start-ups and small to medium enterprises become internationally uncompetitive. This session will explore how the decarbonisation of the NHS supply chain is going from NHS and industries perspectives. Speakers will include: Ian Milimo, Project Manager, United Nations Development Programme Lisa Dittmar, Net Zero and Sustainable Supply Chain Lead at NHS England Sign up for the webinar
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Event
Safety for All: Sustainability webinar
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
Climate change has been recognised as the “biggest global health threat of the 21st Century”. Healthcare is one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and there are steps which healthcare professionals and organisations can and should be taking to tackle this issue. In 2020, the NHS set out a bold ambition to become the world’s first carbon net zero national health system by 2045. The Safety For All campaign is hosting a webinar on the topic of sustainability where attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a frontline health worker leading the sustainability charge within her NHS trust and the ABHI’s Sustainability Executive who will speak about the steps industry can take to improve sustainability. The webinar is open to everyone with an interest in the importance of sustainability in healthcare. The programme: 13:00 - Welcome by Charlie Bohan-Hurst, Safer Healthcare & Biosafety Network 13:05 - Presentation by Angela Hayes, CNS Palliative & Supportive Care, Clinical Sustainability at The Christie Foundation Trust 13:25 - Presentation by Addie MacGregor, Sustainability Executive at the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) 13:45 - Q&A session 13:55 - Conclusions and wrap up of webinar. Register for free -
EventThe SHARE conference (Sustainable Healthcare Academic Research and Enterprise) is an annual event co-hosted by the University of Brighton, Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Centre for Sustainable Healthcare. The SHARE 2023 conference is a free online event, on 12 May 2023. It is an opportunity to share your research, quality improvement, education or any other type of project related to improving the sustainability of healthcare. Register
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EventuntilHuman activity is driving global warming at an alarming rate. Extreme temperatures, air pollution, drought and floods affect all nations – including the UK and Republic of Ireland. This climate emergency is also a health emergency. As nurses and midwives, we must act now as a profession to safeguard our patients and services from the effects of a warming world. This joint Royal College of Nursing and NHS England conference builds on the aspirations of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Join to raise awareness of the impact of care provision on greenhouse gas emissions, and explore the opportunities this challenge presents to improve health and care services. Register
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Content Article
In this episode Dr Paul Grime, Chairman of the Safer Healthcare Biosafety Network, speaks to Paul Leach, National Ambulance Lead, NHS England Net Zero Travel and Transport Team. Having contributed to the recently published NHS Net Zero Travel and Transport Strategy, Paul leads on the transition of the NHS emergency fleet to zero emission vehicles. Safety Talks is a podcast series as part of the Safety for All Campaign, launched to shine a light on the symbiotic relationship and benefits of integrating the approach to deliver healthcare worker safety and patient safety. -
Content ArticleDownload this complimentary report and discover how the NHS is paving the way to becoming the world's first net zero health service by 2040. Learn about groundbreaking initiatives such as the first net zero surgery, sustainable tech adoption, and partnerships with energy experts like E.ON. This guide showcases the NHS's efforts in tackling climate change, enhancing healthcare, and overcoming economic hurdles through innovation and strategic energy management.
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Content ArticleWhile climate change is a big threat to health, implementing solutions to address climate change presents a huge opportunity to promote better health and protect people from climate-sensitive diseases. Communicating the health risks of climate change and the health benefits of climate solutions is both necessary and helpful. Health professionals are well-placed to play a unique role in helping their communities understand climate change, protect themselves, and realize the health benefits of climate solutions. This toolkit from the World Health Organization (WHO) aims to help health professionals effectively communicate about climate change and health.
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Content ArticleIn the UK, surgical care is responsible for the equivalent of about 5.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year – equivalent to that from heat, electricity, transport and waste of 700,000 UK homes. Reducing the emissions produced during surgery would be a significant step towards the NHS achieving its aim to be net zero by 2045. The report shows that solutions are available and in many cases could result in better options for patients while at the same time costing the NHS less. Reducing and reusing products used in surgery, shutdown checklists for operating rooms to save energy when they are not in use, switching to less harmful anaesthetics, and surgeons and patients working together to optimise their treatment are all highlighted as ways in which carbon emissions could be reduced. This landmark report highlights a number of successful initiatives that have already been implemented. For example, a team at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust successfully reduced both carbon dioxide emissions and cost by switching from general to local anaesthesia for some procedures, and from disposable to reusable surgical gowns. The report, which involved collaboration across multiple organisations involved in different aspects of surgical care, was produced by the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, Brighton and Sussex Medical School and the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare.
