The University of Aberdeen have been announced as a core organisation in a new UK-wide hub tasked with developing new ways to help the NHS dramatically cut its carbon footprint.
Led by the University of Exeter, the hub will share £6.5million in government funding.
The new funding is from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Overall, they are investing £42million on seven hubs, each facing a difference net zero challenge.
The new health and social care pathways hub brings together a range of university and healthcare partners throughout the UK, to tackle the challenge of helping the NHS become environmentally sustainable, and to help meet its legal obligation to become net zero by 2045.
The NHS has already made good progress in reducing its own carbon footprint, with emissions directly in their control on course for an 80% reduction on 1990 levels by 2030. However, emissions have actually increased from travel, waste and from companies who make drugs, devices and supplies used by hospitals and care facilities.
Hub director Ed Wilson, Professor of Health Economics and Health Policy at the University of Exeter said: “We’re delighted to receive this funding, which recognises our strong partnerships with the NHS, and our commitment to a greener, fairer and healthier society. We’ll be looking at a patient’s journey through the NHS and social care, finding where the carbon hotspots are and seeing what we can do to make them carbon neutral. This isn’t just about reducing travel and unnecessary waste, but about helping the NHS’ suppliers - the companies who make our drugs, medical devices and everyday items like swabs, sheets and hospital gowns - to redesign their processes to reduce carbon emissions.”
The new collaborative, is officially entitled ‘UK Hub for One Health Systems: Creating Sustainable Health and Social Care Pathways’
Dr Luis Loria-Rebolledo, Research Fellow who is leading the University of Aberdeen team said: “We are thrilled and inspired to be part of this interdisciplinary team - bringing together experts from all over the UK to help achieve such a monumental goal.
“At Aberdeen, we will focus on a workstream that prioritises strategies to achieve Net Zero, ensuring they align with the diverse needs of different groups to maximise environmental benefits and reduce health inequalities
“This also speaks to Aberdeen’s commitment to exploring more sustainable solutions and breaking with convention in order to work towards net zero before 2040”.
Core organisations in the new Hub include; Cornwall Partners NHS Foundation Trust; Glasgow Caledonian University; the Institute of Cancer Research, London; the James Hutton Institute NHS Highland; Queen’s University Belfast; the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland; the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; the Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Trust; the University of Aberdeen; the University of Liverpool; the University of South Wales; Volunteer Cornwall; and Getting it Right First Time, an NHS England programme designed to improve treatment and care