Local NHS bodies commit to sustainable methods in drive to improve health and wellbeing

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board has made a new pledge to become more sustainable in the provision and delivery of health and care services in the local area.

Alongside local NHS trusts, the organisation has signed up to become a corporate partner of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) in efforts to integrate sustainability into health and wellbeing for local residents.

Like many other industries, the healthcare sector is becoming more attuned to the impact of the environment and sustainability on the health and wellbeing of the communities it serves.

Meeting the needs of the fastest growing population of any Integrated Care Board in England in the last decade, which is set to grow by a further 25% over the next 20 years, requires collaboration to address the wider factors that influence the health, prosperity and future happiness of residents.

Having been working for some years towards its sustainability ambitions, the Integrated Care Board is co-ordinating a refreshed Green Plan for the wider Integrated Care System (ICS), due to be approved by the summer, weaving health and wellbeing into the fabric of the ICS’s journey together towards a more environmentally sustainable system across health and care services in community and hospital settings.

Dr Tim Simmance, associate director of sustainability and growth at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“IEMA is known as a world leader in supporting the move towards a more environmentally sustainable and net zero society.

“The expertise and experience they bring, along with a global cross-sector network, will give us the opportunity to step up our activities. Their recent support at a seminar to help us refresh our Green Plan created a buzz among the participants.  A partnership with IEMA will mean we can harness this energy, demonstrate our shared commitment to the same goal, and support health and care providers in the local system in their transition to greater sustainability.”

IEMA’s network of Corporate Partners and experts across a range of environmental and sustainability disciplines will help local NHS bodies to further develop the knowledge, skills and drive of their workplaces, and take a step-change towards creating an environmentally sustainable health and care system – one where the environment is an equal consideration with other factors which influence health.

Sarah Mukherjee MBE, CEO of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, said:

“Health, wellbeing and sustainability all go hand in hand, so it’s imperative that healthcare organisations across the UK are embedding sustainability into their day-to-day operations. “The environment around us has such a huge impact on our health and wellbeing, from the food we eat to the availability of local green spaces, not to mention the impact of things like air pollution on our physical health. In doing our bit to address climate change, we’re also having a positive impact on human health, which is why it’s brilliant to have NHS organisations on board with IEMA to create change.”