Green Healthcare Scotland

‘Embedding sustainability into every clinical and managerial decision’

The Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) has been commissioned to lead Green Healthcare Scotland (GHS). This aims to support clinical involvement in environmental matters with regional health boards as NHS Scotland expands its commitment to greener, more sustainable healthcare.

Building on the success of the National Green Theatre Programme (NGTP), this initiative now includes the National Green Renal and National Green Endoscopy programmes.

Together these efforts aim to reduce the carbon footprint of renal, theatre and endoscopy services across NHS Scotland.

GHS aims to reduce the carbon footprint of clinical practice across NHS Scotland and is a key element of the Scottish Government’s Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy 2022 – 2026, into driving greener, more sustainable healthcare for the future.

Programme Aims

GHS aims to reduce the carbon footprint of clinical practice across NHS Scotland, enabling more environmentally sustainable care by:

• Working with clinicians and professionals to develop actions that reduce carbon emissions.
• Supporting all NHS Scotland regional Boards to implement, measure and report on these improvements.
• Specialties including Renal, Endoscopy and Theatre departments are high carbon and energy intensive areas which produce high volumes of waste and reducing the environmental impact will make a positive difference toward Scotland's net zero targets.

NHS Scotland will benefit from reducing the environmental impact of these speciality areas. By introducing achievable actions we will:

• Reduce the carbon footprint and emissions of renal, endoscopy and theatres departments across NHS Scotland.
• Save costs or become cost neutral.
• Improve patient and staff experiences.

Below is information on each programme, including carbon saving actions, how we are delivering these programmes and how you can get involved. Please get in touch if you would like further information: cfsdghs@nhs.scot.