NHS Lanarkshire is making great strides in its commitment to build a greener future for staff, patients and residents to enjoy the health and eco benefits.
The progress has been so impressive that it has been recognised with an award at the first ever NHS Scotland Assure Conference.
To highlight the amazing eco-friendly progress across its sites, the health board submitted three submissions to the conference, where the theme was Excellence in the Health Care Environment.
The board took home the ‘Collaboration – Working in Partnership’ category for the work undertaken by the Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership (LGHP).
The LGHP work within NHS Lanarkshire has brought green health activities into patient rehabilitation programmes and dementia groups. It has also developed various opportunities for inpatients, outpatients and staff to enjoy new improved hospital grounds including:
- More than 100kg of vegetables harvested from hospital gardens and donated to a food bank
- Participants engaging with therapeutic gardening sessions
- University Hairmyres Hospital setting up a food growing site
- Delivery of plants and seeds, and online sessions during Covid restrictions
NHS Lanarkshire also submitted two other submissions; one to showcase the ‘Theatre Sustainability Group’ who initially formed to make NHS Lanarkshire operating theatres more sustainable which now includes other teams to identify further areas to tackle climate change. The other highlighted the work done to dramatically reduce the use of Nitrous Oxide anaesthetic which is harmful to the environment.
Martin Hill, chair of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “I’m really proud of our three submissions to the NHS Scotland Assure Conference.
“There has been excellent work throughout the organisation to introduce greener initiatives. We recognise healthcare has a significant role to play in not only tackling climate change but using sustainability as a way to reduce inequalities and improve public health.
“Winning the Collaboration – Working in Partnership Award recognises the coming together of a team from different organisations and job roles. They combined their expertise and added greater value to projects, which is exactly the ethos of the LGHP.
“All the partners involved work to connect health and social care with nature, and the enthusiasm shown by patients and staff taking part in these programmes has been fantastic.
“Our Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy outlines our firm commitment to helping to make Lanarkshire a greener, healthier, happier place.”
Vicki Trim, health improvement lead, Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, and green health partnership lead, NHS Lanarkshire, commented: “The Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership is led by NHS Lanarkshire and works with various local partner organisations.
“We work closely together to increase biodiversity in local green spaces and raise awareness and confidence for those within the community to access these spaces and embrace the physical, emotional and mental health benefits of spending time outdoors.
“We’re also thankful to the NHS Charities Together Fund which supports the hospital gardening programme.
“I’m absolutely thrilled our work has been recognised on such a large scale. Making better connections to our “Natural Health Service” is the focus of all that we do. Occupational therapists play a key role in the success of the hospital gardening and active travel developments support staff to make decisions about how they travel to and from work.”
Jacqui McGeough, deputy director of Planning, Property and Performance and chair of the Board’s Sustainability and Climate Change group, added: “We’re delighted to win an award for a sustainable initiative which benefits our staff, patients and the wider community, and supports a greener and thriving planet.
“I’m looking forward to working with colleagues from across NHS Lanarkshire to deliver our recently published strategy and to develop plans committed to delivering eco-friendlier solutions.”
