First NHSE exemplar organisation for sustainable practice

Recently, our Trust has been selected as the first NHS England exemplar organisation for sustainable practices within infection prevention and control.

This is a huge achievement and fantastic national recognition for the incredible work that has been done to reduce our carbon footprint, through projects such as Green ED, the gloves off campaign, reusable tourniquets and infectious waste. 

The report is now being shared with organisations across the country, to support other NHS colleagues to adopt similar green practices in their own working environments. 

Read the report here. 

Going greener right across the Trust

The Trust recently became only the second NHS organisation in the country, and first in the south west, to install a Central Destruction Unit (CDU) to make entonox - also known as gas and air - carbon neutral.

In 2023, the Trust also decommissioned the piped supply of nitrous oxide, a gas medically distinct from entonox but a contributing factor to our carbon footprint. This project was made possible by obtaining funding from the Healthier Futures Action Fund via Greener NHS and we were one of 14 successful applicants out of 109 across the South West. The Trust now only uses a small number of nitrous oxide gas cylinders where relevant and will save hundreds of thousands of litres of gas usage every year.

There are a huge number of other green steps that have already been taken to help our organisation become more sustainable, including:

♻ 95% of lighting across the hospital replaced by LED lighting

♻ Launching ACT, an app that encourages fun competition between staff to log their sustainable actions in the workplace

♻ Creating a sustainable wellbeing garden for patients, staff and visitors

♻ Old equipment and mattresses donated to global humanitarian aid overseas

♻ One of just three Trusts in the south west to have been awarded funding that will enable us to continue work to reduce our carbon emissions, by powering the hospital site with low carbon technology.

♻ Bronze and silver GreenED accreditation received, to recognise the sustainability practices underway in the Emergency Department

Our Green Plan

Our first board-approved Green Plan for 2021-2024 outlines the actions and initiatives we aim to deliver to address our sustainability and net zero targets.

Sustainability is fundamental to maintaining high quality care; to help us meet the needs of today without compromising the needs for future generations.

Our environment has a direct impact on our health; since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this has become even more apparent.

The virus has placed unprecedented pressure on all areas of the NHS; we must tackle the climate emergency with the same level of significance if we are to safeguard our future from the impacts of climate change.

All our staff will need to play their part in delivering this Green Plan for the Trust to be a truly sustainable organisation.

Energy Centre

Our Energy Centre generates energy that powers the Great Western Hospital site through more sustainable means than the Trust has ever seen before.

The Energy Centre is helping the Trust achieve its NHS Net Zero Carbon target through the installation of Air Source Heat Pumps which work without burning any fossil fuels, and generate a 100% renewable electricity contract.