Formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health has welcomed a new net zero strategy which reflects its own sustainable ambitions for greener healthcare

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has published a new Climate Emergency and Sustainability strategy (2024 – 2027) detailing its role in supporting NHS Scotland’s commitment to achieving a net zero health service by 2040.

The strategy outlines an NES action plan aimed at reducing its own emissions, as well as the educational support and training it plans to provide to the health and social care workforce with a view to mitigating climate change through raising awareness and embedding fresh initiatives.

Karen Reid, Chief Executive of NES said the strategy and accompanying action plan is focused on areas including transport and travel, digital infrastructure, waste reduction, and greenspace and biodiversity.

InnoScot Health fully supports the timely publication and the important focus on the workforce as enablers of change, alongside accelerated use of technology and innovation which are vital to inspire collective action in the fight against climate change.

At the recent NHS Scotland Event, delegates heard how NHS Tayside and the NHS 24 Green Flow Navigation Centre (FNC) had focused on the positive benefit to patients and the environment from the introduction of new urgent care pathways promoting remote patient consultation and delivery of care closer to home, in turn saving some 55.2 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Head of Innovation at InnoScot Health, Robert Rea said: “NES has a key role to play in helping the health service progress towards achieving its climate goals. Properly educating the workforce in how to embed more sustainable practices completely underpins NHS Scotland’s 2040 net zero target.

“Particularly so given there is now deep recognition of the impact which the environment has on the Scottish population’s health, but also the impact which healthcare can have on the environment as well.

“We are also in full agreement with the NES belief that climate change and the harms caused by it will result in greater need for healthcare across the globe. The incredible collective knowledge of the NHS Scotland workforce is therefore a key partner in the battle to mitigate environmental impact.”

InnoScot Health’s own sustainability call encourages those same workers across Scotland to leverage their daily insights and come forward with their ideas for greener ways of working.

Robert continued: “They are best placed to spot the issues and suggest solutions which, if viable, we can then help to develop to the point of adoption back into health boards.

“NES insists that digital innovation and infrastructure is an important element in sustainably supporting the workforce. In the same way, we have made our online offering as easily and quickly accessible as possible to ensure that our digital front door is always open to sustainable-minded, collaborative innovators looking to bring their ideas to life.

“The sustainable opportunity is great, and we want the NHS workforce to be agents of positive environmental change – to become sustainable-minded innovators helping in that collective push towards the 2040 target with successive generations following their example.

“It’s an empowering thought; the ability to change your organisation from the inside out with innovative ideas whilst positively impacting not only patient health, but the health of the wider population too.”

InnoScot Health passionately believes that innovation which achieves sustainable outcomes can, and should be, entirely complementary to the enduring everyday drive for healthcare excellence.

Its innovation call is open to anyone working across NHS Scotland and offers a package of support to the initial value of £25,000, including IP protection, regulatory support, project management, and extensive innovation expertise.

NHS Scotland staff can start by booking a consultation or submitting an idea. All ideas are welcomed – from simple to complex, from all disciplines, and any member of staff. It could be a medical device, a piece of technology, software or service offering.

Last year, an InnoScot Health webinar explored the subject of Interconnected Innovation - Healthcare Learnings from Animals and the Environment, providing an opportunity for progressive healthcare thinkers to hear innovation experiences drawn from rural affairs and climate change.