UCLPartners funds new research to fill the evidence gap that is hindering NHS net zero targets
Our NHS partners work within a highly varied estate across England. Every day they confront challenges on how to minimise the environmental impact of their surroundings. Attempts to reduce their carbon emissions is hindered by a nationwide evidence gap – we do not know the safest and most secure ways to overcome the barriers slowing the achievement of NHS net zero targets.
To address this, our Connecting for Change programme brought together NHS leads and experienced academics to work together on research proposals that could provide the actionable evidence we need to make a difference. After a competitive assessment process, we have selected four research proposals:
- Embedding carbon costing of resources and pathways within orthopaedic clinical trials (Barts Health NHS Trust)
- An evidence-based approach aiming to change perceptions about ventilation and energy efficiency (University College London, Barts Health NHS Trust and University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust)
- Assessment of the potential for energy reduction in current and future operating theatres (University College London, Barts Health NHS Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
- Using building performance models to accelerate net zero healthcare (University College London and NHS Property Services)
Elliott Westhoff, Head of Sustainability Programme at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted to be one of the successful research proposals for the Connecting for Change programme. This project has the potential to be revolutionary for how energy in theatres is managed across the NHS and pave the way for smarter estates management as a whole. Too often this work is put in the too hard to fix box, but through coming together in this way will allow us to work in rich collaboration to ensure NHS estate and facilities strive towards net zero ambitions.”
These proposal ideas were facilitated through an innovative ‘sandpit’ methodology that saw a multidisciplinary mix of 30 participants participate in three immersive sessions where they worked together to grapple with these real-world challenges and delved into the barriers blocking decarbonising of NHS estates.
Dr Dominique Allwood, Chief Medical Officer at UCLPartners said: “It is fantastic to take this innovative sandpit methodology and apply it to a real-world situation. I’m extremely grateful to everyone involved in helping us to bring such a driven set of NHS clinicians, sustainability and estates staff together with experienced academics so we can tackle our carbon challenge. Their expertise and passion in hospital design and sustainability has led to the development of research projects with significant potential to build actionable evidence that will benefit the whole of the health system.”
At the core of this work is the understanding that climate change and human health are inextricably linked, with the NHS being the first in the world to commit to delivering a net zero national health system. Connecting for Change is proudly supported by Greener NHS.
Nick Watts, Chief Sustainability Officer at Greener NHS said: ‘If the NHS is to deliver on its core purpose: to improve health and care, now and for future generations it must tackle climate change at source. It is vital that we work with our partners to foster innovation and reach our goal to be net zero by 2040. We’re excited to support the Connecting for Change programme to bring the right people, ideas, and energy together to drive change for our patients and communities.”
The selected research proposals will begin shortly, with regular progress updates anticipated over the coming year. The outcomes of these initiatives will contribute significantly to meeting the Greener NHS ambition of tackling climate change through reducing harmful carbon emissions – improving health and saving lives.