Introduction by Laura Churchward, Chief Executive Officer, University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
I am proud to endorse this Sustainability Plan, which marks a significant step in our collective journey towards a greener, healthier future.
All of us who work – and use – healthcare services are facing the impact of climate change on health. Our changing climate is already affecting both mental and physical health across the globe, placing unprecedented pressures on healthcare systems. As key healthcare providers in the region, we have a critical responsibility not only to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions but also to adapt our estate and care models to meet these evolving challenges.
Sustainability for us should be more than environmental stewardship. It is about resilience—ensuring that we can continue to deliver healthcare services effectively within the resources available. This demands innovative thinking about what we do and how we do it. While sustainability is already embedded in many aspects of our care, we can do more.
Our influence extends beyond hospital walls and through our commitment to environmental, financial and social sustainability we will also try to positively impact inequalities and the wider determinants of health. This Sustainability Plan is our commitment to empower our staff to make positive changes and to embed sustainability within everyday business decisions.
I invite all colleagues, patients, and community members to join us in making this vision a reality.
Introduction
This Sustainability Plan shows the commitment of Northampton General Hospital (NGH) NHS Trust to becoming a more environmentally, and therefore socially, sustainable and resilient organisation. Within this plan are a range of actions and targets aimed to help us deliver the Net Zero 2040 target whilst maintaining high levels of patient care. It is a three year strategy that will be delivered by the Sustainability Team in partnership with all staff within the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) Group. It is aligned with the new Kettering General Hospital Sustainability Plan and that of the Integrated Care Board.
This plan has been developed in consultation with members of the Sustainable Development Committee and has been sent to all champions and department heads for approval. It has been approved by the UHN Board and will be monitored and constantly updated via the Sustainable Development Committee which includes a network of colleagues from different areas, both clinical and non-clinical, across the Trust. It is also supported by a growing number of local groups and champions across NGH.
Our key aims remain the same as those of the previous Green Plan:
- Reduce our emissions in line with Greener NHS Targets
- Improve our resource efficiency
- Reduce air pollution from Trust operations
- Embed social value aspirations
- Adapt our models of care and infrastructure to deal with the changing climate.