NHS Green planning – how is the public sector focusing on sustainability and ESG issues, and what does this mean for private hospitals, clinics and technology providers?

With its target for reaching net carbon zero for emissions it controls directly by 2040, and emissions it can influence by 2045, the NHS became the first health system in the world to make such a commitment. While the target date may seem a way off yet, of necessity given the ambition required to reach it, steps are already in train to do so. Signalling action at a local level, during the flagship NHS Confederation conference on 16 June, NHS Chief Sustainability Officer Dr Nick Watts was able to announce that all 212 English NHS Trusts have now completed their net zero strategies, or ‘green plan’, a milestone on the roadmap to net zero.

The green stick - challenge

In addition, from a top down legislative perspective, from July this year, the Health and Care Act 2022 will come into force inserting a selection of climate change provisions into the NHS Act 2006 obliging NHS England, new Integrated Care Boards and NHS providers to have regard in the exercise of their functions to how they are contributing to compliance with the Climate Change Act 2008 regarding the overall UK net carbon zero target, to environmental targets under the Environment Act 2021. This is in addition to existing law and guidance already in force, or imminently so, including government procurement policy notes (or PPNs) confirming that tackling climate change must be a key priority in procurements, and requiring carbon reduction plans to be supplied in the procurement of major public sector contracts.

Building on this, the NHS has also published a ‘Net Zero Supplier Roadmap’ which requires that by the end of the decade the NHS will no longer purchase from suppliers who do not meet or exceed its carbon zero commitments – a clear stick complementing the carrot of moral imperative and overall opportunity for private sector suppliers interested in marketing ‘green’ solutions to NHS clients. 

The green carrot - opportunities

With 60% of the NHS carbon footprint calculated to come from its supply chain, there is clear opportunity, and for private sector operators within that supply chain to innovate to create healthcare products and devices which are more environmentally friendly and design healthcare pathways which enable the sector to reduce its contribution to carbon emissions. Indeed, the private sector is clearly already taking this onboard with the Independent Healthcare Providers Network announcing an industry-wide commitment for independent healthcare providers to go beyond the NHS target to achieve net zero by 2035 (with a net zero supply chain by 2045). Some members have committed beyond that ambitious target to achieve net zero by 2030.

Products

In terms of products, there are many examples throughout healthcare services of items which continue to be used at great cost to the environment. The challenge is to eliminate these, whilst maintaining access to often life-changing treatments for patients. A simple example is the metered dose asthma inhaler, the propellants in which are greenhouse gases accounting for 13% of the UK NHS carbon footprint.

The industrial process of remanufacturing, a step beyond simply recycling, is another innovation starting to take hold within the healthcare sector. This involves breaking down products or their components before restoring them to useful life and is an effective way of reducing waste and environmental impact. Examples of healthcare devices which are being restored in this way include neonatal monitors and surgical tools including forceps, endoscopes, and cytoscopes. The challenge with this approach is guaranteeing the safety of the remanufactured devices, but if this can be achieved, this is a clear step to more sustainable use of such devices. 

Infrastructure

From an infrastructure perspective, private sector clinic and hospital providers can demonstrate their environmental commitments through infrastructure projects, powering their own premises using renewable sources, and partnering with public sector providers to help them do the same. They may also look to projects such as the rollout Community Diagnostic Centres taking testing closer to communities cutting out the carbon cost of travel to larger centres while doing so. 

Technology

From a technology perspective, digital healthcare solutions have grown exponentially during the pandemic, and it is clear will continue to do so in coming years. These support sustainability initiatives in many ways, from reducing the need to travel to hospital centres, therefore effecting a reduction in carbon footprint, to increasing access to care and information for people regardless of their ability to engage in traditionally delivered services. Examples include apps which help people to manage and treat a wide variety of conditions from diabetes to mental health, and physiotherapy.

Conclusions

With such clear ambition centrally and evidence of this being embraced at local NHS level, there are both challenges and opportunities for private sector suppliers to the NHS. Key to this is understanding what is required and articulating clearly how solutions offered fit that bill. 

This article was written for Healthcare Markets publication, the original piece was published here.