Sustainable Health South West

This guidance, released in July 2012, has been written in collaboration with partners including the Department of Health (DH), the Environment Agency, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Climate UK.  Its aim is to summarise the current knowledge on adapting to climate change in NHS organisations. It describes what climate change adaptation is, why it is a priority for the NHS and how organisations can include adaptation in their Sustainable Development Management Plans (SDMPs). Visit the SDU website to access the guidance, or see the PDF

The Big Green Bundle is a great tool to help engage people with reducing carbon emissions. Developed by the Low Carbon Partnership in Cheltenham, it brings together all of the best practice guidance of in-house staff engagement campaigns which will support you in reducing CO2 emissions. It categorises people, for example, into ‘concerned consumers’ and ‘honestly disengaged’ and identifies the techniques which best work with each group of people.  It is a generic tool, but will work in healthcare organisations. Take a look at the "Big Green Bundle".

The NHS SDU has recently published a practical tool to help NHS organisations think through how they build staff, public and patient engagement into their work on sustainability.  This Guide provides practical advice, suggestions for action, examples of good practice and evidence of what works. It brings together the learning and evidence of good engagement and experience from a variety of healthcare organisations, including emerging clinical commissioning groups across the country. Visit the SDU website to access the guide, which is divided into 9 sections for ease of use.

‘Planning for a healthy environment: good practice for green infrastructure and biodiversity’, has been published by The Wildlife Trusts and the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), in partnership with a wide range of organisations.  It provides guidance for practitioners to ensure nature is taken into account when shaping local areas. 

The Environment Agency (EA) have launched new web pages and an online helpdesk providing further information on the service and advice and guidance on the impacts of climate change and how to plan for them. Visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/climateready to find out more and sign up to the new e-bulletin for the latest updates on Defra’s Climate Ready work on the national adaptation programme and the new Climate Ready support service.

The Heatwave Plan for England, has been updated and reissued on 18 May 2012 to raise both public and professional awareness. A copy of the Plan, the accompanying factsheets for staff, care home managers and a public information leaflet is available on the DH website. The Plan’s purpose is to enhance resilience in the event of a heatwave. It is an important component of overall emergency planning and will become increasingly relevant in adapting to the impact of climate change.

In what is the first Europe-wide assessment of urban vulnerability to climate change, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has found that cities are not sufficiently resilient to climate change. The study also found that the cost of dealing with climate impacts will be greatly reduced if early adaptation actions are implemented. Read the full report HERE

The 2012 Building Better Healthcare Awards will recognise excellence in productivity, patient outcomes and patient experience by the people, built environment and technology that will help define and inspire the future of our healthcare. Visit the website for more information. Applications are now open (close 30 June).

The Government has published its Heat Strategy, setting out a vision of how to cut emissions from heating homes, businesses and industry in the decades ahead. The Heat Strategy builds on the Government’s 2011 Carbon Plan which set out plans to meet the fourth carbon budget of a 50% cut in emissions by the mid-2020s. For more information visit the defra SD website.

The Government should be straightforward about the impact that UK consumption is having on the world's climate, according to a report from the Energy and Climate Change Committee. Click HERE for more information on the WiredGov website.

The Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released a new report called ‘Managing the risks of extreme events and disasters to advance climate change adaptation’. The report comes as mounting evidence suggests that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods and heatwaves. View the full report HERE and click HERE to see the IPCC press release.

UK organisations could save over £400m a year by taking simple, low-cost actions to improve the efficiency of their hot water boilers, according to new guidance published today by the Carbon Trust.  New analysis by the Carbon Trust reveals that heating and hot water accounts for over one third of UK organisations' energy consumption and up to 60% of the carbon emissions from some UK industrial processes, such as food production and laundering, where demand for steam or hot water is high. However, it's possible to cut heating costs by up to 30% by implementing some simple boiler-related energy saving measures.

The BMJ has just published a spotlight on climate change on bmj.com, ahead of the BMJ print supplement, which will be published this Saturday, 24 March 2012. All articles are free of charge, which means you can share them with anyone interested in the subject.

This symposium, held on 21 October 2011, was a joint venture between the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and two ACN projects: Built Infrastructure for Older People’s Care in Conditions of Climate Change (BIOPICCC) and Design and Delivery of Robust Hospital Environments in a Changing Climate (DeDeRHECC). Taking the central theme of risk, its impact and meaning for service provision, and the care of people in vulnerable circumstances, over 50 experts from health, social care, planning, security, transport and the insurance industry explored responses to risk in general and climate change in particular.

The Government published the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) on 25 January 2012, the first assessment of its kind for the UK and the first in a 5 year cycle. The CCRA has reviewed the evidence for over 700 potential impacts of climate change in a UK context. Detailed analysis was undertaken for over 100 of these impacts across 11 key sectors (inclduing health), on the basis of their likelihood, the scale of their potential consequences and the urgency with which action may be needed to address them. Information about the CCRA and copies of the reports produced are available on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/government/risk-assessment/

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published (12.01.12) a new draft of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme allocation regulations. There are three key points of interest: 1. Dates for purchase and allocation of allowances; 2. Price of allowances and 3.Fees

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol) has won the Environmental Practice Award at the 2011 Health Business Awards. The 5th annual Awards, announced at the Emirates Stadium, London on 8th December, recognise excellence and best practice within the NHS.

Emerging clinical commissioning groups are being encouraged to think about the sustainability of healthcare and the wider environmental impact of their work as they move towards authorisation. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the SDU have developed a range of tools and guidance that would help CCGs at this time including:

Prince Charles has congratulated 14 hospitals, including three in the South West, for the work they have done to improve and maintain high standards of food for patients and staff in their organisations. The event in December at Clarence House welcomed chief executives, catering managers, people who serve food on wards, patient representatives, and local farmers who supply the hospitals. HRH The Prince of Wales has been working with the Soil Association since 2004 and has long campaigned to improve the quality of food in hospitals. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation, North Bristol NHS Trust, and Devon Partnership NHS Trust were among the 14 Trusts representing the highest achievements in hospital catering. For more information, see the full press release on the Soil Association website.

The Department for Transport has published a Behavioural Insights Toolkit, providing practical, step-by-step guidance on how to design more effective sustainable transport initiatives using insights from behavioural theory and social research evidence.

In association with the Guardian, the Carbon Trust is looking to explore the current challenges and opportunities for the public sector in carbon reduction. Please take 5 minutes to complete this short Carbon Trust survey, and you will be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win £100 of Amazon vouchers. Click on the link to participate in the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/carbontrustsurvey

The UK must prepare for extreme weather and ageing population, according to the University of Durham. Researchers have mapped areas of England most likely to face more extreme weather events and increasingly elderly populations, and have called on service providers to adjust their planning to meet these challenges. The new maps, produced by Durham University's Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience and Heriot-Watt University, suggest that many areas in England projected to see an increase in severe weather events, such as floods and heatwaves, over the next 30 years may need to care for high proportions of vulnerable older people. The findings are relevant to the whole of the UK where an increase in extreme weather events coupled with population ageing are also expected. Read more at http://www.dur.ac.uk/news/research/?itemno=12909 

All NHS organisations and their stakeholders are being asked to sign up to a 'Day of Action' on sustainability – on Wednesday the 28th March 2012.  More details will follow soon, but see below for information.

The Met Office has released it's latest online film, on the health impacts of climate change. To view the film, visit You Tube or the BITC Mayday website. If you are not able to access the film, visit the Met Office website (climate change and health research) for information or see the PDF below to read the transcript.

IDEA have just launched their Health and Wellbeing Board publication, “new partnerships, new opportunities” - see PDFs for a copy of the executive summary and a short version of the case studies to this email for your information. The full version (with the full case studies) will be added to the following webpage by the end of October: www.idea.gov.uk/health-partnerships

DECC (the Department of Energy and Climate Change) has published an interim report examining the issues around fuel poverty and how it should be measured. See the PDF attached or visit the DECC website for information.

The NHS SDU has become one of the founding members of a new global initiative: Global Green and Healthy Hospitals - which supports existing efforts around the world to promote greater sustainability and environmental health in the health sector and thereby to strengthen health systems globally. 

The first annual report is available on the work of the Behavioural Insights Team and examples of the application of behavioural insights to encourage sustainable lifestyles. Click here to access the annual report, and for a summary, visit the Defra Sustainability in Government pages by clicking HERE.

What will respiratory medicine look like in 5 years’ time, when carbon rationing is re-shaping the NHS?  The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) is starting an exciting project, funded by GlaxoSmithKline, to improve the environmental sustainability of respiratory medicine, focusing in particular on COPD. This programme has arisen from the Sustainable Specialties Programme developed by CSH and supported by other key national bodies such as the NHS Sustainable Development Unit. The Sustainable Specialties Programme began in 2009 with Green Nephrology and has since received wide acclaim in national conferences and key documents for change such as the Marmot Review. 

From 1st October 2011, the Environment Agency will take on a new role as the delivery body for the Government’s climate change adaptation programme in England.  As part of the programme, the Environment Agency and Climate UK have developed a new partnership agreement to ensure that local partners can access support to help them take action to increase resilience. 

NHS Bournemouth and Poole has developed ‘Cutting Carbon and Improving Health’ – a 9 minute video that explains carbon and the role of the NHS in reduction, for use in staff inductions. The video is available for all Trusts to use for their staff, and is available on YouTube and Vimeo (click on the name).

PAM is a management tool designed to provide a nationally consistent approach to evaluating NHS premises performance against a set of national indicators. It will help the NHS deliver cross-government initiatives such as the Climate Change Act and the HM Treasury Operational Efficiency Programme. Read more about NHS PAM.

A new study has been published looking at the risks and benefits to health of travel by bicycle, focussing on a bicycle sharing scheme compared with travel by car in an urban environment. Click on the PDF below to view the BMJ article.

This manual seeks to illustrate, through a series of related themes, the commitment to raising the quality and sustainability of health buildings and spaces to help those responsible for delivering healthcare to understand the issues involved, and to be inspired to take appropriate action. Using examples ranging from whole health reconfigurations to health centres, 'Tomorrow’s Healthcare Environments' demonstrates what it is possible to achieve. Click here to read the full manual (PDF via online access).

The new Government Procurement Service (a transformed Buying Solutions) has developed an area of the website to provide information, help and guidance on where Government Procurement Service products and services can assist in the delivery of sustainability within government procurement. Procurement professionals have a key role to play in enabling their organisations to meet the challenges of sustainability. Visit the website for more information

The UK National Ecosystems Assessment has just produced a report which highlights the ‘hidden value’ of nature and has produced economic benefits onto various aspects of the natural environment. Highlights of the report which provide further evidence as to the importance of the work of the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, most notably the NHS Forest, is the following: “The health benefits of living with a view of a green space are worth up to £300 per person per year”. 

Musgrove Park Hospital is embarking on a pioneering energy efficiency project with Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, which is set to save the hospital £17million, over the next 20 years, freeing up valuable resources for patient care. The project, which is the first of its kind in the UK healthcare sector, will deliver substantial energy efficiency measures at Musgrove Park Hospital. 

Proposals to make the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme simpler, easier and more straightforward have been outlined. The proposals will be formally consulted on early next year but comments from participants are encouraged now.

The first Government Buying Standards for food and catering services has been announced, ensuring that Government departments and agencies buy more sustainable food and give small and local producers fair access to public contracts worth up to £2 billion a year. The new standards will cover procurement of food produced to higher sustainability and nutritional standards, and more sustainable catering operations.

The Carbon and Energy Fund is a new £100M+ fund that is the natural sucessor to the Energy and Sustainability fund. It exists to fund and support projects in the NHS that meet a certain level of carbon savings per £1000 of investment required.

From 2011-12, all NHs organisations are to include a section in their Annual Report covering their performance on sustainability during the year. This guidance is applicable to all organisations, including NHS organisations, that produce Annual Reports and Accounts in accordance with the FReM. HM Treaury have produced a useful document that explains the requirements and provides template examples. See the document below or visit HM Treasury website. The SDU has also provided guidance and a template on their website.

The SDU has collected useful information and links from the Environment Agency (and others) to help you prepare your CRC annual and footprint reports in time for the 29th July deadline. Click HERE to visit the SDU website for the guidelines and links to support options and resources.

The revised safe management of healthcare waste guidance document was published by DH last month This is the second edition of this manual, providing an update to Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 first published in 2006. See the PDF below for full detail

Carbon Trust Implementation Services and Siemens Financial Services have combined forces, and together are offering leases, loans and other financing options to all types of organisations seeking to reduce their energy use. New, more efficient equipment should lower energy bills and with payments calculated so that they can be offset by the anticipated energy savings, the financing option is designed to pay for itself.  Visit the website for more detail.

The British Medical Association (BMA) is launching a workbook to support ethical purchasing in the NHS. It will provide tools which will enable NHS organisations to devise ethical procurement policies and begin implementing, monitoring and reporting on these practices. It’s hoped the workbook will mobilise a range of stakeholders to start thinking about what they can do to bring change to the NHS. For more information and for ideas on what you can do, have a look a leaflet developed by the BMA and the Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group - CLICK HERE TO VIEW.

'Looking back, looking forward Sustainability and UK food policy 2000-2011' is the Sustainable Development Commission's final report that reviews progress towards sustainable food policy in the UK from 2000 to 2011. It is attempting to articulate what a sustainable food system is – one that addresses the multidimensional challenges of health, fairness, environment and economy. It identifies specific challenges for food and sustainability and highlights priorities for action going forward. Its purpose is to advise policy makers in the UK Government and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland administrations, as well as those in business, academia and civil society, who continue to pursue this important goal. It draws on previous work by the SDC in this area and is also informed by the findings of a survey of 145 experts within Government, business, academia and civil society during November and December 2010.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has developed a new 2050 Carbon Tool. It’s an interactive way of seeing what specific actions will have on reducing CO2 levels.  There are two versions (click to view) The easy to use version and the more comprehensive and technical version

The Government announced the details of the the world's first Renewable Heat Incentive policy to revolutionise the way heat is generated and used in buildings and homes.  The Renewable Heat Incentive(RHI) policy document, sets out the detailed arrangements for this scheme, which will provide long-term financial support to renewable heat installations to encourage the uptake of renewable heat. DECC is aiming for the regulations which underpin this scheme to be approved by Parliament in summer 2011 and the scheme will be introduced shortly thereafter.

The Carbon Plan is a Government-wide plan of action on climate change, including domestic and international activity, which sets out department by department, actions and deadlines for the next 5 years. The Plan presents ongoing and planned cross-Government action on climate change with specific deadlines providing for both internal accountability and public transparency.

The Soil Association has recently launched 'First Aid for Hospital Food', a report celebrating where hospitals have been successful at sourcing fresh, local and organic food with no impact on cost. The report also highlights where hospitals are falling short and sets a challenge for all hospitals to provide better meals for patients. For information visit the Soil Association website or click on the PDF link below to access the report.

(From SDU update) On Tuesday, 1st February 2011 the NHS SDU welcomed more than 220 people to St Barts hospital in London. Guests were welcomed by Sir Neil McKay, Lead NHS Chief Executive for Sustainable Development.  He introduced a video address from Simon Burns MP, Minister of State for Health who explained why the Route Map and sustainable health was so important for government and the Department of Health. David Flory CBE, Deputy NHS Chief Executive described how NHS organisations must take action now so they can be fit for the future, not just financially but socially and environmentally too.

Millions of people can help in greening the NHS by sponsoring trees through a new NHS Forest Tree Sponsorship Scheme, launched by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare and the Woodland Trust. The NHS Forest project aims to see the planting of 1.3 million trees, 1 tree per NHS employee, with as many as possible planted on NHS sites, such as hospitals and surgeries, to benefit patients, staff and local communities.  People can sponsor a tree for £15 and up to 10 trees can be sponsored at a time using the web-based scheme.

Climate SW has just released ‘Warming to the idea: building resilience to extreme weather and climate change in the South West’ - which updates the summary report of a scoping study carried out in 2003, which summarised the impacts of climate change across a number of sectors in the South West. The updated publication incorporates the latest climate projections (UK Climate Projections 2009) and reflects current understanding of the key issues and adaptation opportunities for the South West. Click HERE to view the PDF or visit the Climate SW website for more information.

Salix has recently launched a further loans scheme, with initial funding of £4.5m, which is to be provided to public sector bodies in England (excluding Central Government Departments, their Agencies and NDPB’s). The Scheme allows public sector bodies to apply for an interest free loan to finance up to 100% of the costs of energy saving projects meeting Salix’s criteria. This initial tranche of loans will be paid back to Salix by direct debit on a 6 monthly basis over a period of 4 years, commencing in March 2012. The funding can be applied for in this current financial year only, ending on 31 March 2011. Applications will be processed on a first come first served basis until all funds are allocated so the sooner an application is made then there is a greater chance of obtaining the required funding. For more information please visit the Salix website

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has detailed the Government’s commitment to “fully implement sustainability reporting across Government". In line with the Government’s aim of increasing transparency and accountability across the public sector, central government departments and the NHS will be required to report non-financial a varity of sustainability criteria. For more information visit the defra website.

BMJ Learning has released two e-learning modules on climate change & health. The first module explores the history and scientific basis of climate change and the ways in which it is predicted to impact on global health, while the second looks at the role of the health professional in responding to climate change. Both modules are freely accessible and are suitable for all audiences as they are available for both medical and public use. Visit the BMJ website to find out more, but please note that you will need to register an account with BMJ learning but access to the two modules is free. You can either create an account as a clinical specialist (select 'other' if these do not apply to you) or as a patient (select 'member of the public').

This consultation is the result of stakeholder feedback and the Government’s intention to review the operation and design of the scheme. The proposed amendments are focused on extending the introductory phase and postponing the first allowance sale of phase two. This will allow for future amendments and provide participants with an additional year’s experience managing compliance and performance within the introductory phase. We recommend that you respond to this consultation. You will find the NHS SDU response available to download from the SDU website. For further information on the consultation please see the Department of Energy & Climate Change website. Note: The closing date for consultation responses is Friday 17th December 2010.

The Committee on Climate Change today recommended a carbon budget for 2023-27 and a target for emissions reductions in 2030 – halfway between now and 2050. The recommended target for 2030, to cut emissions by 60% relative to 1990 levels (46% relative to current levels), would then require a 62% emissions reduction from 2030 to meet the 2050 target in the Climate Change Act. Visit the Committee on Climate Change's website for more information.

Defra has published its Action plan for driving sustainable operations and procurement across Government, meeting a commitment of its Structural Reform Plan. The action plan will guide reform of Government’s operations and procurement. See the PDF below or visit the defra website for more information.

(From SDU bulletin) The Carbon Trust is currently asking for organisations to sign up to its Public Sector Carbon Management service. The 10 month programme will help public sector bodies develop and implement carbon management plans to achieve five year cost savings and carbon reduction targets. To secure a place on the service next year you will need to identify a Project Leader who will be able to commit around 2 days a week to drive forward carbon management within your organisation. You will also need to identify a committed Director to act as Project Sponsor. If you are interested then email publicsector@carbontrust.co.uk by 31st December 2010. Please state your: Name, position, organisation, telephone number, annual energy bill and level of carbon maturity (beginner/refresh/advanced).

Human development report says inaction on climate change puts at risk decades of progress on education and health. The UN said that on one estimate, the adverse effects of climate change on grain yields would push prices up, more than doubling the price of wheat. In a worst case scenario, the report added, by 2050 per capita consumption of cereals would fall by a fifth, leaving 25 million additional children malnourished, with South Asia the worst affected. Read more on The Guardian website.

This document from the SDU details how you and your finance teams can deliver better value for money by making sustainability part and parcel of the financial process. The paper is aimed at anyone with financial control in the NHS and is designed to help NHS finance experts understand the health, cost, governance and reputational benefits associated with reporting on sustainability issues. Visit the SU website to download.

(From SDU Bulletin) A new scheme to encourage kidney units to implement sustainable healthcare has been launched by the Campaign for Greener Healthcare. ‘Green Stars’ provides a measurable mechanism by which kidney care teams can demonstrate achievements against national criteria, while encouraging a continued effort towards sustainable healthcare. Kidney units will apply for their ‘Green Stars’ by providing evidence of their environmental initiatives with their achievements published on a dedicated website. Already 80% of kidney units have a green staff representative – working on projects from energy and water-saving through to telemedicine and patient-centred care. To find out more please visit the Green Nephrology page on the Campaign for Greener Healthcare website. 

The Energy Saving Trust Fleet Hero Awards recognises businesses that have gone the extra mile to reduce carbon emissions from their fleet operations. In Partnership with the Guardian and CBI, the 2010 awards were launched on September 28th and entrants have until 2nd November to submit applications. With 10 categories there’s an opportunity for all organisations to promote their environmental success stories. Visit the Fleet Hero website for more information.

The Royal Society for Public Health recently released the article “Tackling climate change and tackling health risks: the co-benefits”. Andrew Lansley (Health) and Chris Huhne (Energy and Climate Change) joined forces to contirbute the forward of the article. They have said that “the health sector is uniquely positioned to lead by example...” Read the introduction on the RSPH website and see the attached PDF for the full article.

On Sunday, 10th October 2010, the environmental movement 10:10 will hold a ‘Global Day of Doing’. The organisers are asking that you make some contribution towards tackling climate change. Over a 100 NHS organisations have joined the 10:10 Health Campaign aimed at reducing emissions by 10% during 2010. If you’d like advice about organising an event then please contact David at david@1010global.org or call on 020 7383 9112.

(From SDU Bulletin) Defra have published their 2010 update to the Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors for Company Reporting. The conversion factor dataset is updated on an annual basis and is intended for use in conjunction with Defra/DECC’s ‘Guidance on how to measure and report your GHG emissions’, available at the defra website. The conversion factors can be found on the defra conversion factor page 

The NHS SDU has fully replied to the series of consultations on the White Paper “Liberating the NHS” and they recommend you also formulate your own response to the Department of Health. The consultation closes on 5 October (White Paper) and 11 October 2010 (for the detailed proposals documents). The SDU’s response raises the necessity of a joined up approach to economic, social and environmental sustainability as being core to health reforms and the QIPP agenda. Read the series of responses on the SDU website.

This summary document, developed by the SDU, provides an overview of the development resources available to your organisation to embed sustainability. See the PDF below for information.

The British Standard for procuring sustainably, BS 8903:2010, was published in August by the BSI in association with Action Sustainability. 

The SDU has produced a slide set which will help NHS organisations understand the correlation between human health and climate change. The resource was originally developed for public health trainees but could be used by NHS staff to explain the importance of sustainable development in health care, within the wider context of climate change. The slides (and their accompanying notes) can be viewed as a PDF on the SDU website and a powerpoint version can be requested.

Having a Board Approved Sustainable Development Management Plan (SDMP) is one of the cornerstones of the NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy. It supports sustainability and details how the combination of economy, environment and society are not only core to the NHS but also benefit how the NHS is run. The SDU's latest information on SDMPs summarises the policy context, and provides guidance and suggestions to assist NHS organisations to develop an effective SDMP. If you already have an SDMP in place you may wish to use this updated document to revise your plan at the next annual review. Visit the SDU website for more info

(From South West Public Health and Well Being e-bulletin). New analysis of research conducted in partnership with the National Obesity Observatory and Sustrans, shows the impact an increase in cycling has had on public health - with a 10% reduction in the number of people classified as physically inactive.

Defra, in partnership with Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), has published the 2010 update to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Conversion Factors for Company Reporting. The dataset is now available on defra's conversion factors page.

The Environment Agency has approved another standard for early action metric for the CRC, providing further competition for the original Carbon Trust version. The Kitemark ERV (Energy Reduction Verification) scheme is based on the BS EN16001 Energy Management Standard and uses the well known Kitemark brand. The Kitemark scheme has been designed specifically with CRC requirements in mind so requires that only Greenhouse Gas emissions from energy use are taken into account. Along with the Carbon Trust Standard and CEMARS, Kitemark allows organisations who are leading the way in environmental management to be rewarded for their early action. For more information visit the Bsigroup website.

The NHS Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) has published some timely guidance on how to save the NHS money; useful information for Financial Directors and Estates Managers. 'Saving Money by Saving Carbon, Decision Making in the NHS using Marginal Abatement Cost Curves' guidance supports the fact that lowering your carbon footprint and increasing sustainability will help reduce costs and in many cases will improve the quality of healthcare.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the SDU have cowritten guidance which will help the NHS reduce construction waste. The guidance is aimed at halving the amount of construction waste going to landfill at a time when landfill costs are rising. The report sets out ways that NHS organisations can improve the sustainability of building works being carried out. See the PDF below for more information.

Having a Board Approved Sustainable Development Management Plan (SDMP) is one of the corner stones of the NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy and once again underpins the fundamental overlap between Social, Economic and Environmental factors that is core to the NHS. NHS CEO Lead for Sustainable Development, Sir Neil McKay, is keen for the Carbon reduction strategy to be implemented in every region. A map showing the number of SDMPs per region is available on the SDU website - on average 48% of Trusts across England have an SDMP with congratulations to the South West, South Central and Yorks and Humber who had many more.

Over 5,000 NHS staff in Scotland will now be trained to encourage victims to 'open up' about domestic abuse.Scotland will become the first country in the UK to tackle domestic abuse through the NHS, with a co-ordinated national strategy to identify and help more victims.Frontline NHS staff in Scotland will become skilled at how to initiate conversations in a sensitive way that will give people the chance to open up about abuse behind closed doors.

The Campaign for Greener Healthcare has created an online database for NHS organisations which maps case studies in all areas of NHS sustainable development. The website promotes the sharing of best practice and resources. It is easy to use and allows NHS organisations to present the latest information on each featured project.

The Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD) is looking for NHS Trusts that are enthusiastic about changing behaviours, in order to save energy and water, reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability. IESD, based at De Montfort University in Leicester, is looking at ways of influencing and managing staff, patients and visitors to reduce environmental impacts. For more information please contact Dr Andrew Wallace

Any NHS Trusts wanting to know more about the CRC can listen to a specially developed webinar, created for Trusts so they can better understand how to prepare for the CRC. SDU Director David Pencheon took part and highlighted the impact the CRC will have on the NHS. Topics covered include Early Action Metrics; how NHS Trusts can benefit; how to achieve the Carbon Trust standard. Click to listen to the webinar.

The Environment Agency, the SDU and Yorkshire and the Humber are presenting two CRC surgeries specifically for NHS organisations.One will be hosted by Yorks and Humber and the other in Cambridge. The Environment Agency (EA) will speak at the surgeries and will be able to answer your questions face to face. The sessions will include an overview of CRC, registration walk though, monitoring and reporting tool guidance, Q&As and the EA will have all the latest developments.

All NHS organisations who have a setted half hourly meter must register for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme on the Environment Agency website. However, as you progress through the site do not click on the “Mandate Participants” section. This is reserved for central government use only. The Environment Agency does not consider NHS Trusts as “Mandate Participants.” so when you are registering via the EA website you need to select either “Qualify as a participant” (over 6,000 MWh) or “Make an information Disclosure” (less than 6,000 MWh). Click here to visit the EA website. 

Two new documents/guidance notes on sustainable commissioning ave has been sent to all Trusts:  ‘Commissioning for Sustainable Development – a how to guide from commissioners’ from the SDU and Healthy Futures, #9 in the SDC series (includes a case study from NHS Gloucestershire). See below for the PDF versions of each or visit the SDU website. 

Following on from the announcement at the recent SWSPN Sustainable Procurement Conference, a range of free training sessions across the region covering various aspects of sustainable procurement are now avaliable.

The UK government policy requires that all future non-residential or mixed-use developments above 1000 m2 should provide at least 10% of their energy requirements from on-site renewable energy generation. Wind energy produced from building-mounted wind turbines could be expected to provide a proportion of this renewable energy. Putting a wind turbine on top of a tall building is a highly visual way to shout about green credentials, but minor changes in rooftop positioning can make a world of difference when it comes to actual energy generation. Built environment experts BRE have been putting their wind tunnel to good use, measuring speed and turbulence over thousands of spots on the roofs of a series of scale models representing high rise and medium rise buildings.

(from the BBC News website) "Just five minutes of exercise in a "green space" such as a park can boost mental health, researchers claim. There is growing evidence that combining activities such as walking or cycling with nature boosts well-being. In the latest analysis, UK researchers looked at evidence from 1,250 people in 10 studies and found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem. The study in the Environmental Science and Technology journal suggested the strongest impact was on young people."

How much CO2 does it cost to stay in Hospital? On average, more than a quarter of a tonne. That’s according to the latest research by the Eastern Region Public Health Observatory (ERPHO) who have calculated an average inpatient admission equates to 380 kilos of CO2e. The research gives a good indication of the carbon impact of NHS services, including service changes and innovations in the NHS. It will be particularly useful as the NHS responds to the Quality and Productivity challenge. This research will help the NHS quantify which innovative healthcare measures could be introduced to improve patient care, save money and reduce carbon emissions. For more information visit the ERPHO website.

DH has recently issued the Premises Assurance Model (PAM). It is designed to help NHS organisations report on the quality and safety of NHS premises. The NHS PAM has been developed to support the delivery of the Quality and Productivity challenge, public value and carbon reduction programmes. Although it is non-mandatory, the overarching objective of the model is to enable providers to demonstrate assurance and accountability for their premises in a clear and nationally consistent manner. It is initially focussed on the acute sector and is pre-populated with existing nationally reported information. More details available on the Dh website.

A hospital packed with green technology could become the most environmentally friendly in Britain, according to the primary care trust building it. The Malvern Community Hospital, due to open this autumn, is part of plans by the NHS to cut its carbon footprint - which is currently 3% of the UK's total emissions. Built at Seaford Court, Malvern Link, the hospital will include in-patient and out-patient facilities, x-ray and ultrasound, day rehabilitation and therapies, palliative care and visiting mammography and MRI scans. Its 24-bed £17.7M hospital will use renewable geothermal energy for heating, cooling and hot water. For more information visit the edie website 

A new report paints the first complete picture of the scale of the UK’s waste mountain, which hit 18.4million tons last year – at a time when the economy was still struggling to emerge from the longest recession on record. The environmental cost of discarded food and drink is equal to an extra 12.4 million cars on the road. For more information visit The Independent on Sunday website.

The South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership (SWCCIP), the region’s only partnership focused on climate change impacts and adaptation, is changing it’s name to Climate SouthWest from 1st April 2010. The website has also been updated to reflect the name change, but the website address remains the same: www.oursouthwest.com/climate.  Why not visit it to find out more about their work, and look at some of the exciting new adaptation case studies on the dedicated case study page. 

 The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan published on 15 July 2009, announced that all departments would publish a Carbon Reduction Delivery Plan and The Transition Plan also announced that all departments would publish a Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Together these plans will represent a public statement of intent setting out the DH's commitment to a clear set of time-specific actions to help the UK both mitigate and adapt to climate change. These two plans take into account the inter-linkages between adaptation and mitigation and are being published together as the Climate Change Plan, published in March 2010. For more information and to download the full plan, visit the resource page on this website or the Department of Health website.

A number of new CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme documents are now available from the Environment Agency (EA). This includes presentations from the EA's CRC Conferences and updated guidance information.

The Royal Commission has published a report on Adapting Institutions to Climate Change. The Commission chose this topic because it believes there is an urgent need to understand how UK institutions should adapt to climate change and initiate actions to build adaptive capacity. The primary focus has so far been on how to mitigate climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but it is equally important to learn how to adapt to, at the same time as taking action to mitigate, climate change. The Commission found that many UK institutions are poorly positioned to adapt to climate change and often have not yet started to think about how it will impact on them. They also found that there are complex and multilayered governance arrangements in place for many areas which will be impacted by climate change.

Shaping Our Future - the report from the joint ministerial and third sector task force on climate change, the environment and sustainable development was launched on 09 March 2010. Ministers from Defra, Decc and the Office of the Third Sector spoke at the launch, as well as a good mix of third sector panelists from NCVO, Green Alliance, the National Children's Bureau and ACRE.

This consultation seeks views on the proposed Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment, which sets out streamlined and consolidated planning policy relating to: biodiversity and geological conservation (PPS9)landscape protection, soil and agricultural land quality, and forestry (PPS7)coastal access, heritage coast and the undeveloped coast (PPG20)open space, sport, recreation and play (PPG17) Proposed policy changes relate only to the strategic provision of green infrastructure and to the floodlighting of sports and recreational facilities.  For full information visit the CLG website. Deadline for comment is 01 June 2010.

This new book, published at the end of 2009, provides a comprehensive study of the ways in which climate change and health interact and overlap. It begins with a review of the science, including the health services’ contribution to CO2 emissions in the UK, and includes clear recommendations for action on adaptation and on building healthy, sustainable low-carbon communities.  It emphasises the need for partnership working and for collaboration with other professions and groups to amplify the health dimensions of climate change. Although it’s eminently readable from cover to cover, it will also be a useful reference for health professionals and anyone concerned about health policy.For further information visit http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=74742

The UPDATE NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy is proving very popular with colleagues across the NHS and beyond, and many have been interested in using the new graphs for presentation purposes. The graphs have now been made available with a proviso that the SDU is acknowledge, you can download them at the SDU website

The Department of Health is running a consultation on NHS Car parking: improv­ing access for patients. Please respond to the consultation by 23rd February 2010. Car parking is an important topic for the NHS to get to grips with espe­cially the impact on patients and visitors and the impact on the environment needs to be taken into account. The NHS SDU response to the consultation will be available on the SDU website by Friday 12th February 3pm. Access the consultation by clicking this link. The consultation form and ad­dress is at the end:

A range of new CRC guidance documents and tools are available - see below for list. All are available on the Environment Agency's website

The Government has been urged to introduce a 'Walkability test' to ensure public services are easily reachable for the population by foot. The consortium – led by the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) and including the Campaign to Protect Rural England, CTC, Friends of the Earth and Living Streets – also wants the Government to introduce a ‘transport test’ for all new policies so they do not lead to people having to travel further, particularly by car. The ‘walkability test’ could be applicable for all public services, such as post offices, schools and NHS facilities.

(From SDU bulletin 17) The P4CR is currently a working document, primarily designed to help procurement staff reduce carbon emissions from their sector. However there is a wider message and opportunity that all NHS organisations should be aware of. Reducing carbon and procuring sustainably should be a corporate priority and included in your organisation’s sustainable development management plan. It should have an assigned strategic and operational lead. Procuring in a carbon sensitive way should be communicated to all staff and those who supply NHS organisations. The P4CR ‘Roadmap’ and supporting materials are available on the SDU website

The Department of Health has sent each NHS organisation their own individual Carbon Indicator (CI) which covers water, sewage, high temperature disposal, landfill, non-burn treatment and recycling. A letter has been sent out to all CEOs, a copy of which, containing further information, can be seen on the resource page.

There is a strong moral argument why local authorities and their partners work to improve the heath of their communities and to reduce the inequalities gap. But investing in preventative public health also makes sound business sense. The IDeA through the Healthy Communities programme plans to support the sector to understand where efficiency savings can be achieved and how to realise them. It is currently asking local authorities and partnerships to work with them to trial this theory in practice.

A new report published on Friday, 11 December by the Sustainable Development Commission finds that eliminating waste, cutting fatty and sugary foods and reducing meat and dairy consumption would make the biggest contribution towards improving health and reducing the environmental impacts of the food system.

The impacts of climate change will be widespread across the globe. In order to understand more about what the human impact of high-end climate change might be, and therefore what would happen if a successful agreement can not be reached at Copenhagen in December, the UK's Met Office Hadley Centre has produced a map outlining some of the impacts that may occur if the global average temperature rises by 4°C above the pre-industrial climate average. The map represents the latest peer-reviewed science on the impacts. For further information and to see the 4°C map visit www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk.

As part of national tree week, Tree O'Clock is a world record attempt to plant the most trees in one hour - Saturday, 5th December from 11am - 12 noon. All Trusts across the region are encouraged to take part - visit the Tree O'Clock partner page for more information.

Health should be at the centre of our fight against climate change, Health Secretary, Andy Burnham said Wednesday, 25 November at the launch of a new report on Health and Climate Change. The report calls on health ministers and professionals across the world to recognise the danger that climate change poses to health, in the run up to the UN conference in Copenhagen in December. For more information read below or visit the summary on the DH website.

Brits are happy to recycle and follow green practises at home but leave their environmental conscience at the door when they arrive for work. That’s the conclusion of a new survey by Tickbox.net/Opinion Matters out today (20.11.09) which highlights how attitudes towards recycling and energy saving differ between the home and the workplace.

Musgrove Park Hospital has been creating a stir and attracting local press, all keen to cover the hospital's new on- site allotments. The hospital has received coverage on the BBC Somerset website, an interview on BBC Radio Somerset and an upcoming peice in the Western Daily Press - all highlighting this fantastic story.

The UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) have announced that they will be running a week long series of Webinars on the new UK Climate Projections (UKCP09) from the 30th November - 4th December.  As well as open sessions, specific sessions are being held for local government, business and the natural environment.

World leaders must consider the likely impact of climate change on health and the large related cost-savings of early mitigation action when they meet in Copenhagen in December, two European health groups said on 9 October.

The NHS Confederation has recently released a briefing paper outlining the main details of how the CRC scheme will affect NHS trusts. The CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) Energy Efficiency Scheme, which will begin in April 2010 with an introductory three-year phase, is a mandatory energy efficiency scheme that will affect both the public and the private sector. Due to their size and operational nature, many NHS organisations will meet the qualification criteria for the scheme.  Visit the NHS Confederation website or the resource page to view the briefing.

The Campaign for Greener Healthcare has launched web pages to support NHS Trusts who have signed up to the 10:10 campaign.

The new Let's Get Moving (LGM) physical activity care pathway is based on the principles of the NICE public health guidance 2006: Four Commonly Used Methods to Promote Physical Activity, which endorses the delivery of brief interventions for physical activity in primary care as both clinically and cost effective in the long term. 

The final details of the Government’s scheme to save organisations money on fuel bills and to reduce carbon emissions have been unveiled today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme is a new regulatory incentive to improve energy efficiency in large public and private sector organisations. Large energy users in business and the public sector will be required to take part in the scheme from 1st April 2010.

Energy regulator Ofgem has today highlighted the challenges to Britain’s gas and electricity supplies. Chief among these challenges are a growing exposure to a volatile global gas market and power stations nearing the end of their life.

The US based Institute for a Sustainable Future has invited hospitals in the South West to join its Balanced Menus Challenge, a climate change reduction strategy that helps hospitals serve the healthiest food to benefit patients, the environment and the bottom line.

‘Leading the field: foundation trusts and their approach to the sustainability agenda’

The Environment Agency has produced a new report - 'Climate change, adapting for tomorrow' which shows how they are working, often in partnership with others, to help communities and businesses adapt, while still protecting the natural environment. The report can be found at:www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/108348.aspx.

Research shows for the first time how dependent we are on our cars. With the highest ‘cost of public transport relative to car’, the SW also places just 7th of 8 regions when considering ‘Who has the best travel options?’, graded E+ and scoring just 49% due to ‘Public transport being expensive and it's hard to take a bus’. The SW is also only second bottom for number of journeys mainly by walking or public transport.

More than £1.7bn of taxpayers' money was reported saved last year as a result of the Government's drive to make local government more efficient, announced Communities Secretary John Denham. New figures published on 29 September show that local authorities reported £1.76bn of savings during 2008-09, by making services more efficient and improving value for money - equivalent to £98 for the average band D council tax payer. 

The Rippleffect, a water-saving initiative from Envirowise, continues to have a demonstrable impact. A recent survey of last year's members showed that 53% are achieving water savings and over 80% can now measure their water use.

The Blue Gym aims to promote health and well being in the natural environment and save millions of pounds for the NHS.S upported by Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Department of Health, the Blue Gym is a new initiative which aims to promote health and wellbeing and appreciation of the environment, as well as saving millions of pounds for the NHS.

Mental health charity Mind's grants scheme Ecominds have awarded five environmental organisations a maximum £250,000 each to deliver flagship projects as part of a national wellbeing and environmental campaign. The successful projects were seen to offer the best benefit to the environment while giving people with mental health problems the natural therapy of working outdoors.

CABE’s Homes for our old age features 10 case studies of housing schemes for older people, each of which offers inventive design and management solutions linking home and social care.

An unprecedented coalition of scientists, companies, celebrities and organisations spanning the cultural and political spectrum have committed to slashing their carbon emissions as part of an ambitious campaign to tackle global warming.

The downward trend of air pollutants has continued, according to the latest figures from the European Environment Agency. The largest member states are still responsible for the most air pollution, with France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom contributing the highest amounts of emissions.

The Green Bus Fund is a new £30 million fund from which bus companies and local authorities in England can compete for funds to help them buy new low carbon buses. Its main purpose is to support and hasten the introduction of hundreds of low carbon buses across England.