A new report details the steps NHS Lanarkshire is taking to tackle climate change and meet environmental challenges.
NHS Lanarkshire’s Climate Emergency and Sustainability Annual Report for 2023/24 shows a host of successes.
“It’s been another great year for us in terms of environmental sustainability,” said Craig Brown, NHS Lanarkshire Head of Sustainability and Environmental Performance.
“Our total energy consumption reduced by around 2.5 per cent. With some of the exciting projects happening this financial year, we hope to see a further reduction in energy across some of our key sites in the near future.
“Our emissions have gone up slightly, in part due to increases in clinical activity and theatre procedures. We have also increased the number of data sources we now report on, meaning the quality and quantity of our reporting has massively improved in comparison to previous years, giving a more comprehensive and accurate picture of our carbon emissions.”
The report highlights include that NHS Lanarkshire:
- Led on the establishment of a cross-public sector sustainability working group which involves a number of key partners;
- Ran a communications campaign throughout Scotland’s Climate Week;
- Hosted educational seminars with the Energy Saving Trust to help staff understand where they can reduce energy use and utility costs at home and work;
- Continued to successfully deliver projects with the National Green Theatres Programme;
- Were successful in applying for grant funding for the installation of solar panels at the health board’s HQ in Bothwell and the NHS’s West of Scotland Laundry in Wishaw;
- Continued to drive the green health agenda through the Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership and were successful in receiving funding of around £120,000;
- Received a grant through Cycling Scotland to improve cycling infrastructure across its sites;
- Continued to make great progress on transition of its small vehicle fleet from diesel to electric;
- Continued to grow its sustainability intern programme;
- Invested in a grounds lead with a focus on biodiversity;
- Ran a development programme for grounds team members which spotlighted greenspace and biodiversity enhancements.
Pictured: Craig Brown, NHS Lanarkshire Head of Sustainability and Environmental Performance, with university students who worked as health board sustainability interns – (from left) Kayla McCandlish, Aatikah Ahmad, Abigail Freel, Christabel Oketona.
The report is published here https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/download/climate-emergency-and-sustainability-report/
