Greener AHP Week – Monday 22nd April to Friday 26th April
There are exciting new initiatives to improve patient care! Earth Day on 22nd April 2024 will be the launch of the second Greener AHP week which showcases some of these changes in care delivery. The week consists of many online free presentations from health and social care, primary and acute trusts, Greener NHS, and many different Allied Health Professions. It is an opportunity to highlight sustainable activities happening in your own trust and engage staff.
The link between climate change and health is well established yet the care we are delivering often contributes to the problem. Here is a chance to learn more about how climate change is affecting health, health systems are affecting climate and what we can do about it. The NHS was the first healthcare system in the world to set a target to be carbon net zero and we can all play our part in achieving this. As health professionals and care organisations we have a duty to deliver health care now and to ensure that the care we are giving is not playing a part in damaging our patient’s health. AHPs are well placed to play a role to play in getting to net zero while ensuring high quality care for all.
What AHPs do every day makes a difference. The actions we take to improve health and reduce ill-health and inequalities also benefit our planet. Common AHP interventions, like encouraging active travel, promoting healthy eating, and supporting good mental health are part of the solution to climate change. There are great projects being explored and delivered by AHPs throughout the UK, from Operating Department Practitioners reducing plastic in theatres, to Greener Spaces for improved mental health, this is a chance to show case and share these things and encourage further action.
What will you do for Greener AHP Week?
As the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS, AHPs play an important role in delivering a Net Zero Carbon NHS. Check out the full programme at https://www.england.nhs.uk/ahp/greener-ahp-hub/upcoming-events/
We’re asking AHP teams to get involved with Greener AHP week in any way they would like. Visit the Greener Allied Health Professional hub https://www.england.nhs.uk/ahp/greener-ahp-hub/ for inspiration, but other ideas could include:
- Take the 30 minute e-learning for health session on sustainable healthcare: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/new-environmental-sustainability-elearning-session-available/ and have a quiz on it.
- Make a sustainable goal part of everyone’s PDR/CPD & add to meeting agenda as standing item
- Submit a case study to add to the Greener NHS case studies
- Sign up to a Centre for Sustainable Healthcare network: https://networks.sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/networks
- Arranging a team walk or cycle to work day in the week.
- Plant a tree on site from NHS Forests https://nhsforest.org/
- Nominate a project for the CAHPO Green Awards https://www.england.nhs.uk/ahp/chief-allied-health-professions-officer-awards