About Us

Sustainable Health SW is a partnership project of the NHS South West and Sustainability South West (SSW), the region’s independent sustainable development champion, and is funded by the Strategic Health Authority. The project is led by a project manager, employed by SSW, who works closely with key Public Health and NHS SW staff. The project is guided by a Sustainability Network, which is open to all sustainability leads for the region’s NHS Trusts and other key partner organisations.

It is hoped that Sustainable Health SW will be an exemplar project, and provide a model for similar projects and associated Sustainability Networks across the country.

The NHS in the South West is often help up as an example of a region where sustainable development and focus on climate change is high. The excellent work done by many of the NHS trusts across the region has been used in national publications demonstrating best practice, and the enthusiasm for the NHS to take a leading role around climate change was evident from the 92% response rate of NHS trusts in the South West to the recently published NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy.

Sustainability South West (SSW) is the independent Champion Body for sustainable development in the South West of England. SSW is a charity, aiming to raise awareness and provide advice and guidance to accelerate change towards a more sustainable region. SSW’s President is Jonathon Porritt and its work programme is informed by cross sectoral membership from across the region. SSW has developed a number of partnership projects focussing on different sectors, and has grown in size and influence to is play a significant role in helping to embed sustainability into regional decisions and planning. Please visit www.sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk for more information.

The project aims:

  • To promote and support effective sustainable policy and practice within the region’s NHS Trusts.
  • To promote the engagement of NHS Trusts with the Sustainable Health SW initiative through the provision and development of guidance, networking, training and events. This will be supported by a new health and sustainability web pages within the SW Regional Sustainable Development Framework -www.shapersw.net and a custom built information website.
  • To develop and assist with regional and local NHS led projects, and to share good practice gained from those projects.
  • To assist with integrating sustainable health priorities into wider policy (including the new Single Regional Strategy) and delivery across the region as part of the wider delivery of sustainable development.
  • To promote the wider integration of health and well being as a key component in the development of, and in support of, sustainable communities.