14 January 2010
Trust leads the way on sustainability
As part of its commitment to contribute to a more carbon-efficient healthcare system, Mid Essex Hospital’s has become the first NHS Trust in the country to produce an environmental report.
The report, which has been produced in conjunction with an external company called Trucost, provides the Trust with a baseline that can be used to manage, control and reduce future exposure to environmental impacts on its business.
Philippa Lowe, director of finance and resources/deputy chief executive of mid Essex Hospitals said: ”This is an extremely important piece of work that has meant that we are the first NHS body to comprehensively measure, understand and report on the environmental impacts of our operations and those of our supply chain and we can now become one of the best performing NHS Trusts on this agenda. The Department of Health will be introducing carbon trading in to the NHS this year and we are now well placed to understand what it will mean for the Trust. Reducing our environmental impact is something everyone in the Trust can contribute to and which I strongly support.”
The 2008/09 baseline data contained within the report will be used to produce a reduction plan with annual and long-term targets to ensure the Trust contributes to meeting the NHS target to reduce our carbon footprint by 10% on 2007 levels by 2015.
Philippa adds: “As a result of the report we have already identified the three environmental key performance indicators that have an impact on our operations and carbon footprint of our supply chain – green house gases, waste and water use. Last year we appointed a waste manager who has already started to work on initiatives to reduce the amount of waste that we produce.”
Dr David Pencheon, director of the NHS Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) said:” I, like others, have been impressed by all the work that the Trust has done in providing both economically and environmentally sustainable healthcare. I am delighted the Trust has produced an environmental report. It demonstrates its commitment to become more carbon efficient. This is especially important as reducing CO2 emissions leads to a more efficient NHS with any cost savings having the potential to be reinvested in high quality patient care.”
ENDS
Media contact : Jo Triggs tel: (01245) 514235 | Mobile : 0790 005 4948
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