How Technology Will Help the NHS Become More Sustainable and Tackle Climate Change

With the ongoing United Nation’s COP26 climate change conference, it is now more important than ever to lay out the importance of further reducing our carbon footprint within the healthcare sector.?

Beginning on Sunday 31st October, the conference will dominate the news internationally as global leaders come together in an attempt to lead our world to a sustainable future. As stated on the?COP26 website, the aim is to “bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change”. The four goals mapped out by the organisation are:

·???Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach

·???Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats

·???Mobilise finance

·???Work together to deliver

Climate Change

We must face the impacts of climate change whilst simultaneously?mitigating greenhouse gases?to prevent any further damage in the upcoming decades. To achieve this, it is necessary to change how we live and work today

The task in hand is undoubtedly huge, and time is the enemy. Inter-governmental action is already taking place, with cuts to carbon emissions planned in order to keep average temperature increases below 1.5- 2oC. However, it will take time before the effects of these actions are realised; the sooner action is taken the better.

With an extortionately long list of risks, including: sea level rises, biodiversity loss and population change, there is a demand for a much broader set of adaptive changes for the coming decades. Mitigation of net zero ambition is only the beginning; The way the NHS adapt is essential.

Effects On Public Health

But how does climate change directly affect public health??

It is indisputable that climate change poses a major threat to our health as well as our planet. By 2050, the world population is set to increase to 10 billion, not todays 7.6 billion. The shift in migration patterns from the equator to North/South will see extreme changes in who lives there, as the?temperature and living conditions becomes too extreme. Not only this, but even insects will begin to relocate, thus causing a shift in infectious disease patterns.?

Climate change specifically targets the Earth, as England has seen 9 of its 10 hottest years on record within the last decade- heatwaves are expected to become more frequent and severe and create another human risk. Similarly, air quality is a challenge we face; cities are already adapting to Clean Air Zones, such as London and Birmingham. Caused by the process of combustion of fossil fuels, climate change doesn’t only affect our planet, but our health too.

NHS’s Role

The NHS has a big part to play in the effort to reduce emissions, as it is the country’s biggest employer and accounts for 4% of England’s total carbon footprint. The NHS has already put a plan in place to combat the immediate carbon challenge. The NHS must not only alter their services and the resources they use, but also implement changes to their ways of working.

The NHS has an unequivocal commitment to reduce its climate impact by embedding sustainability into every aspect of their operations. Since 2010, they have reduced their emissions by 30%, exceeding the commitments under the Climate Change Act. They have already de-carbonised their estate, reduced the use of single-use instruments in theatres, cut back meat consumption in hospital food and introduced alternate energy sources.

“Delivering a Net Zero Health Service” Report

In October 2020, the NHS became the world’s first health service to commit to reaching carbon net zero, in response to the profound and growing threat to health posed by climate change. The report sets out a clear ambition and two evidence-based?targets:

?????“For the emissions we control directly (the NHS Carbon Footprint), we will reach net zero by 2040, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2028 to 2032”.

?????“For the emissions we can influence (our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus), we will reach net zero by 2045, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2036 to 2039”.

One year on from setting out these targets, the NHS has reduced its emissions equivalent to powering 1.1 million homes annually. Together, we can achieve even more.

When it comes to environmental challenges, the gathering of data becomes very useful to create goals and plans moving forward. The NHS Providers Survey allows us to look at real life statistics and analyse them accordingly.?

?????78% of trust leaders insist that tackling climate change is a key priority for the year ahead, even in spite of the pressures created by the pandemic and the forthcoming winter; half of the respondents have already began to make changes of plastic use, energy suppliers and transport.

?????60% express concern about ability to deliver in 2022.

?????75% want to know more about upcoming approaches to sustainability as we face up massive challenge.

How Can Tech Adoption Help Combat Climate Change?

The digital world is constantly evolving, and ever-increasing adoption of tech in the healthcare industry is changing the way we operate. Tech will play an essential part in the future of the NHS, but it can also support in tackling climate change. The pandemic has accelerated the rate of change and increased?technology?usage?in the NHS. And whilst the focus to date has been on how technology can improve efficiency, the NHS can also use technology to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are 3 means in which it can do so:

1.?Reduce the need for travel

The use of technology can make it easier for those who do not live in close proximity to their nearest GP or hospital. The fact that a number of health-related services are now accessible via the touch of a button, a huge number of unnecessary journeys and subsequent emissions can be avoided.

2.??Shift the focus to homes

The NHS is charged with improving the health and wellbeing of local communities. Implementing tech solutions within homes can improve communication between NHS staff and patients managing ongoing illnesses. Wearable devices, data from our phones or info on the internet,?NHS.net?all have a role to play. Tech can also help people understand how their lifestyle impacts health and wellbeing. If this proves to be successful, in the longer term there will be reduced need for patient visits, less use of hospital facilities and a decrease in the amount of anesthetic gases released into the atmosphere.

3.??NHS as a greener consumer

The NHS can also motivate digital health companies to be transparent with their green credentials, whilst instigating improvements to be greener themselves. Additionally, being selective when buying new tech systems can provides better care whilst generating a greener healthcare system.

Final Thoughts

It is significant that these challenges are now being confronted face on, and the NHS continue to work tirelessly to combat the environmental risks we face. In the recent budget, Rishi Sunak pledged a ￡6bn investment to tackle NHS waiting lists across England and increase the use of technology in hospitals. Whilst sustainability is not often the primary driver behind tech investment, there is no doubt that the benefits of digitisation extend to creating a greener future.