Your Sustainable Development Action Plan

The recommendation for Boards to establish governance structures to support the implementation of carbon reduction and sustainable development agendas. It also provides suggestions about what a Board approved Sustainable Development Management Plan can look like. The NHS has pledged a commitment to sustainable development. The NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy 2009 sets out clear measurable milestones to measure, monitor and reduce direct carbon emissions, which make a contribution towards this commitment.

A Board level Sustainable Development Management Plan will help the Trust fulfil its commitment to conducting all aspects of its activities with due consideration to sustainability, whilst providing high quality patient care. NHS organisations should review this plan and progress on delivery on an annual basis and should include sustainability in their Annual Reports.

NHS organisations should work closely with partners, especially other NHS organisations and Local Authorities, developing a community-wide approach to sustainability and carbon reduction. Overall responsibility for the Sustainable Development Management Plan of the Trust should lie with the Chief Executive. There should also be a Trust Board level carbon or sustainability lead, who acts as Chair of a Sustainability Committee, which should oversee the creation of a sustainability agenda.

All Trusts in the South West should have their Sustainable Development Management Plan approved by Board - have a look at the case studies section for examples of Trust plans from across the region.