Healthcare systems have a key part to play in maintaining health in the face of the threat of climate change, however delivery of healthcare is also undermining the health of our populations, by contributing to the problem. If healthcare were a country, it would be the 5th largest carbon emitter in the world.
We are looking for an inspiring Nature Recovery Ranger to improve the quality of green spaces in and around Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and optimise the role green space plays in patient care, staff wellbeing and community engagement.
Location: Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, London
Healthcare systems consume large quantities of materials, energy, chemicals, water, and they generate vast amounts of waste. If the United States healthcare sector were a country, it would rank thirteenth in the world for greenhouse gas emissions, ahead of the entire United Kingdom.
Integrating sustainability into quality improvement (SusQI) is a practical way to train healthcare professionals to respond to social and environmental challenges while also improving patient care. Through our SusQI Education Project, fourteen Beacon Sites in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland were trained to lead on SusQI teaching in their institution and to embed sustainability into Quality Improvement education.
This quarter, seven new Sustainability Fellows have joined CSH's Sustainable Specialties programme. These Fellows are provided a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn about sustainability, cultivate leadership and quality improvement skills, and contribute to an exciting new dimension of healthcare.
Today, the 'Climate change and health scorecard' was published, the first known peer-reviewed study to compare the green credentials of UK health organisations. 11 of 28 invited UK health organisations, representing a total of 236,859 health professionals, participated in the study, and included prominent medical Royal Colleges, the General Medical Council and the Faculty of Public Health.
We are very sad to say goodbye to Carey Newson, our Green Space and Health Director. Carey has been with CSH since 2018 and has brought a fantastic amount to the team in these four years. With her background in journalism, experience in different sectors and broad interests, Carey brought clear-thinking to all her work.
We are delighted to welcome Felicity Harris as our new Green Space for Health Programme Director. Felicity joins CSH with a wealth of experience in the sector, most recently from her previous role as Head of Participation and Learning at Plantlife International. Originally a geography teacher, she has spent 16 years working with The Wildlife Trusts and Plantlife in various roles, with an emphasis on access, engagement and inclusion.
This year, three teams from the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) participated in the Green Team Competition, a clinical leadership and engagement programme for NHS Trusts to improve their sustainability within their services. Climate change has far-reaching impacts on global health. Whilst healthcare systems have a key part to play in maintaining health in the face of the threat of climate change, the delivery of healthcare is also undermining the health of our populations by contributing to the problem.
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is pleased to publish its Annual Review for the year 1 January 2021 - 31 December 2021. The report summarises our activities, funding, and impact over the last year, and provides an overview of our future plans.