NHS Lanarkshire is delighted to announce it received the highest scores in five sustainable focus areas in the NHS National Services Scotland toolkit (NSAT).
The NSAT provides NHS Boards with a framework against which they can assess their overall sustainability performance, and is split into focus areas. The results also tie in with NHS Lanarkshire’s first Sustainability and Climate Strategy, which sets out the Board’s aim to be net-zero by 2045.
Since the toolkits inception in 2018, NHS Lanarkshire’s score* has gradually increased due to new and greener initiatives, as it received a bronze status for 20/21:
| 2018/19 Score (%) | 2019/20 Score (%) | 2020/21 Score (%) | |
| NHS Lanarkshire | 40% | 55% | 57%(bronze) |
*When NHS Boards achieve a particular percentage score on the NSAT, they are awarded bronze (40 – 64%), silver (65 – 79%), gold (80 – 89%) or platinum (90 – 100%) status.
The focus areas are grouped under:
| Our People | Our NHS | Our Planet |
| · Awareness
· Communities · Ethical Issues · Sustainable care · Welfare |
· Active Travel
· Nature & Biodiversity · Capital Projects · Greenspace · Transport |
· Adaption
· Environmental Management · Greenhouse gases · Procurement and supply chain · Waste |
With NSS Lanarkshire scoring the highest in the following five focus areas:
- Welfare (86%)
- Ethics (73%)
- Communities (87%)
- Greenspace (74%)
- Greenhouse Gases (48%)
To ensure the scores were accurate, NHS Lanarkshire is one if only ten Boards who opted for a validated score, where evidence to support scores was submitted to Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) for auditing and validation.
Michael Simpson, acting head of sustainability & environmental management, NHS Lanarkshire said: “We’re delighted to be awarded bronze status for our sustainable initiatives, which support a greener and thriving planet.
“We recognise despite coming first in several areas, that we must continue to work towards improving our scores within others, and I’m looking forward to developing more plans with colleagues as we continue to commit to delivering eco-friendlier solutions.
“I’m also thrilled to share NHS Lanarkshire has made the most progress of all Scottish Boards, and since monitoring and reporting of national energy & emissions targets began in 1990, NHS Lanarkshire has reduced emissions by 74% against the Scottish Government target of 75% nine years ahead of the 2030 target date.
“As we now set our sights on a Silver percentage score, we can ensure Lanarkshire is a greener, healthier and happier place which will make a real difference for our NHS, our people and our planet.”
Marie McKeown, Green Health Partnership manager, NHS Lanarkshire, added: “The Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership promotes “Our Natural Health Service” for physical, mental and social health benefits.
“The importance of nature-based solutions for the health of both people and planet continues to increase as we support patients, hospital visitors and our staff to experience a positive boost to their physical, emotional and mental health, as well as new and improved hospital grounds.
“We’re pleased to be awarded the highest greenspace score out of the Scottish Health Boards, and hope Lanarkshire residents benefit significantly from all that we offer.”
