ASPH is committed to establishing a culture of carbon reduction that underpins all aspects of Trust and staff behaviours and operational workings
The choices we make individually and as a society to prevent climate change will also improve our health with the potential to reduce the pressure on our overburdened health services - both now and for future generations”. Professor Sir Andy Haines (2021)
The NHS contributes over 4% of total UK carbon emissions and is responsible for 40% of all the public sector’s emissions. This significant contribution to the nation’s carbon footprint led to a government commitment in 2020 for the NHS in England to be the first national health service in the world to be carbon net zero by 2045. Service Condition 18 in the Standard NHS Contract states for providers “In performing its obligations under this Contract the Provider must take all reasonable steps to minimise its adverse impact on the environment. The Provider must demonstrate to the Co-ordinating Commissioner how it will contribute towards a “Green NHS” with regard to delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service commitment by taking specific actions and making appropriate adaptations with the aim of reducing air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of climate change”. Thus driving our carbon footprint down is a contractual requirement and not an optional ‘nice’ thing to do.
ASPH recognises and takes responsibility for the carbon emissions we create, as reflected in having ‘working towards carbon net zero’ as one of ASPH’s 5 corporate objectives for 2024/25. This demonstrates our commitment to working towards carbon net zero in line with the national NHS Carbon Net Zero strategy (Oct 2020).
ASPH’s Achievements to date towards Carbon Net-Zero include:
- Our Trust van fleet has been converted to electric vehicles (EVs) saving 4.29 tonnes of carbon a year.
- Trust diesel hopper bus between sites ceased and transport option moved to a public commercial 446 bus service in 23/24 – saving approximately 40,000 staff carbon miles per year.
- Ceased the use of Desflurane anaesthetic gas completely by Dec 2022, saving 117 tonnes of carbon per year.
- Ceased dispensing Ventolin Evohalers to using Salamol inhalers to administer Salbutamol with a much lower carbon footprint per inhaler.
- 20% of outpatient appointments performed virtually (telephone or video consultation), saving 62.4 tonnes per year from patient carbon miles
- 8 solar e-bike chargers installed.
- > 40 trees planted on ASPH sites.
- All printer paper purchased by ASPH is recycled paper.
- Reducing number of large vehicle deliveries per week to reduce supply chain carbon miles.
Partners ASPH is working with to help us reduce our carbon
- University of Surrey Institute for Sustainability – developing a model to determine alternative energy sources and returns on investment in green innovations.
- National Highways and NHS England to increase use of public and active transport by staff and visitors when commuting to work or for appointments.
- LabCycle innovative technology for recycling particular hard plastics to be reused into new plastic products to reduce the need for manufacture new plastic.
