Two new green healthcare initiatives are set to help NHS Scotland ‘turn over an innovative new leaf’ in its drive to deliver carbon neutral ambitions, a health service partner insists

The recent launch of the NHS Green Healthcare Scotland (NGHS) programme, and its plans to start targeting carbon reductions in more specialties such as Renal and Endoscopy Services, mean another significant step forward in hitting the country’s target of a net zero health service by 2040.

Further raising the bar on Scotland’s net zero ambitions, a pioneering, collaboration-driven research project aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the healthcare system recently secured fresh funding of £3.1M from the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

The Design HOPES (Healthy Organisations in a Place-based Ecosystem, Scotland) project has now received a total award value of £7.75M, building on successes such as development of a range of biodegradable, reusable textile products including theatre caps in collaboration with NHS Scotland.

Formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health insists such workforce-inspired innovation is now “firmly turning the tide” on environmental impact with the NGHS being a natural expansion on the National Green Theatre Programme which initially focused on eliminating harmful anaesthetic gases.

After saving 12,000 tonnes equivalent of carbon dioxide already in 2025, the renamed programme — led by NHS Golden Jubilee’s Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD), to which InnoScot Health has provided trademarking support — is projected to identify and save more than 20,000 tonnes annually going forward, while Design HOPES is just as promising.

InnoScot Health’s Head of Innovation, Robert Rea said: “Our progressively greener NHS Scotland is not just turning over an innovative new leaf but turning the tide too on healthcare’s climate emergency with many initiatives helping to deliver meaningfully on the 2040 target.

“Both environmental and financial savings are being delivered through forward-thinking approaches with yet more identified and in the pipeline, while efficient, effective patient care remains foremost.

“Just one example is the belief that Renal Services across Scotland can offer the opportunity to make estimated savings of 2,500 tonnes of CO₂e and £1.2 million annually.

“Another is the potential for reusable supplies and low carbon decontamination technologies in Endoscopy offering potential savings of 3,000 tonnes of CO₂e and £1.5 million annually.

“Better still, Scotland’s health boards have worked collaboratively on implementing 14 carbon-saving actions, avoiding over 12,000 tonnes of CO₂ — the equivalent of taking more than 7,000 cars off the road for a year — and, according to the NGHS team, this has saved £600,000 through a range of greener practices.”

He added: “Design HOPES is no less vital, using design-led research to identify barriers and opportunities for sustainable change within the healthcare system.

“We liaised closely with Design HOPES on its ambitions earlier this year and are certain that it will continue to deliver important breakthroughs, aided by fresh multi-million-pound funding — a strong recognition of its key role as an agent of change.

“We are also confident that, with the right encouragement and support, NHS staff can play a pivotal role in realising environmental wins within their own workplaces.”

InnoScot Health’s Sustainability Innovation Call encourages sustainable, forward-thinking ideas from health and social care professionals in a bid to help support NHS Scotland to adapt, develop and strengthen in response to climate change.