Accelerating the transition towards a net zero NHS
Next month I take on the mantle of becoming Managing Director of Philips UK and Ireland, a company I have been proud to work for nearly two decades, and which I now feel hugely honoured to lead.
I have always felt privileged to work for a company with tightly held values and a clear mission to improve people’s health and wellbeing and enable better outcomes – across every step of someone’s life, keeping them healthy and supporting them when they’re sick.?
During my time with the business, this mission has manifested itself in many ways: from taking steps to combat the systemic health inequalities faced across the UK, to working with schools to improve the quality of the air our children breathe and in the face of national crisis, supporting our National Health System’s resilience in delivering life-saving care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.?
The past few years have put into sharp perspective the role we all play in ensuring the future of the world around us, too. In my own home, my family and I have taken increasing steps to think about our footprint on the planet we inhabit, and how the small changes we make now will have a huge impact in the lifetimes of my own children, and for generations beyond.
Philips too has always been a leader in taking the steps to prioritise our climate, and continually reviewing and adapting our business to ensure we help, not hinder, the UK’s transition to net zero. As part of that goal – we continue to consider our responsibility to the communities and organisations around us, and how we can enact positive and lasting change.??
From becoming a carbon neutral in our own operations, to committing to circular economy-based business models, Philips has always been a leader in fulfilling our important work while protecting the environment. And today we are taking this commitment one step further; we are proud to be launching research with the University of Exeter, entitled, Accelerating the transition towards a net zero NHS: Delivering a sustainable and resilient UK healthcare sector.
The focus of the research is of critical importance today and for future generations. In conversations with our NHS customers and stakeholders across the health system – there is a clear hunger for collaboration to create a health system that truly embraces the ‘health without harm’ principle.?
A burning platform: why now?
As we see it, the two most pressing challenges the NHS face are tackling the backlog and the transition to a net zero health system.?
Firstly, as we know, the backlog for diagnosis and treatments has exploded as a result of the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. New data published in February revealed a record 6.1 million person waiting list for NHS treatments, with 310,000 waiting more than a year.[i]?According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, one scenario indicates that waiting lists could be as high as 10.8 million in December 2023 and remain several million above pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2025.[ii]??
In parallel, the NHS and wider health system must take swift action to decarbonise. As of 2021, the NHS alone accounts for 4% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, double that of the aviation industry. Of this figure, NHS suppliers make up 62%. To put this in context, in the case of NHS Carbon Footprint Plus - which includes the NHS supplier carbon footprint, 8% year-on-year compounded reductions (CAGR)[iii] in emissions are required from 2020 to 2036 to meet the net zero target. With current average emission reductions sitting at 1%, it is clear that substantial, immediate change is necessary.
In addition, a take-make-dispose ‘linear’ system currently prevails in the health system. The large volumes of waste generated, including from single-use products and the premature disposal of medical equipment, damage our environment and drain financial resources. To illustrate this, providers in England create nearly 600,000 tonnes of waste annually[iv] at a management cost of ￡700 million per year and exposing hospital staff, healthcare workers, waste handlers, patients and the community at large to infection, toxic effects and injuries.[v]?Everyone in the healthcare system has a part to play in making this happen as quickly as possible.?
A call to action: what steps should be taken?
At Philips we believe that improving the quality and access to care and tackling the backlog are not mutually exclusive, with clear opportunities to modernise models of care with carbon reduction and effective waste management at their core – without compromising patient care.?
As a global leader in sustainability, Philips has worked hard to make our own business more sustainable and less carbon intensive. We know that others want to be a part of this vital change and now our focus is on supporting and collaborating with the NHS and our fellow technology suppliers to do the same. From our conversations with NHS staff, there is clear acknowledgement that climate change is already bringing new health and wellbeing challenges to patients and that this is only likely to get worse if it isn’t addressed.??
Therefore, incremental advances in our approach to net-zero must end. There is a need for accelerated and system-wide change delivered by new care models, innovative service design and zero-carbon suppliers.?
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The circular economy as an enabler of net zero
We believe part of the answer lies in circular economy practices (CE) and business models, which are underpinned by three guiding principles:?
Our research with the University of Exeter tells us that net zero and circular economy approaches have been treated as two distinct areas of focus within the NHS, Government and supply chains, which must be addressed. There needs to be a unified approach that treats circular economy practices as an answer to tackling the net zero goal and the growing backlog for diagnosis and treatment.?
To push through this change, the report makes 45 recommendations [PDF 1.3MB] which have been condensed down into headline recommendations to the NHS, its suppliers, and policy-makers and regulators.
They are as follows:?
There are more than enough industry leaders and healthcare providers who share our urgency for positive change.?Doing so will not be easy, but with an NHS committed to ensuring longevity and reducing its climate impact, we can drive the net zero transition while enhancing and expanding patient care.?
Our latest research supports this process.?When our future selves reflect on 2022, we will remember this was the year that inspired life-saving and healing environmental change.
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[iii] CAGR = Compounded Annual Growth Rate
Sustainable and environmentally friendly products is our focus. Our goal is to lessen the amount of medical waste going to the landfill as well as to provide sustainable solutions to Hospitals.
2 年I wish you the best in your new role. I hope that our paths cross someday as our Clean Waste technology could make a real difference in lessening the waste footprint that is generated by the NHS in the UK and Ireland.
Galvanising Leaders and Teams to nurture a belief in tomorrow being better than today through investing in a culture that welcomes curiosity, innovation, ownership and enables talented people freedom to act.
2 年Superb news Mark, well deserved and huge congratulations, you will rock it !
Director of Policy and Campaigns at Global Action Plan
3 年Fantastic to see this work Mark Leftwich - and congrats on your new role! Net zero and circular economy should also be a win for air quality, which in turn will reduce the pressure on NHS services from air pollution related conditions (estimated to cost a cool ￡157million a year).