Sustainability

NHFT working Together sustainability image Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) is committed to becoming a sustainable healthcare provider by delivering high quality care and improved public health without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage. The Trust understands that being a low carbon organisation is important to help reduce the adverse effects of climate change on human health.

To this end the Trust has established a variety of on-going projects to support the journey to a Sustainable healthcare provider.

  • Development of a Sustainable Development Management Plan (SDMP) and associated action plan.
  • Establishment of a Sustainability Committee. 
  • Completion of the Sustainable Development Assessment Tool (SDAT).
  • Green certification awarded to NHFT by Investors In the Environment (IIE).
  • Monitoring and reporting on environmental performance metrics through the annual Carbon Footprint report.
  • Production of a benchmark report against the Sustainable Development Unit’s annual organisational summary.
  • Development of a Board approved Green Plan - NHFT Green Plan 2022[pdf] 284KB .

Investors in the environment award 2021

Environmental targets

NHFT has also set a number of environmental targets which are regularly monitored and reported on. The targets can be found in the table below and more detail can be found in the most recent Carbon Footprint report. This can be viewed in the document folder below.  

NHFT environmental targets
RESOURCE USE TARGET UNIT
Electricity used 2% annual reduction kWh
Gas used 2% annual reduction kWh
Water consumed 2% annual reduction m3
Waste produced 2% annual reduction tonnes
Recycling rates 2% annual reduction %
Carbon emissions NHS 2020 target 28% tonnes CO2 e

The Trust has an overarching Carbon emissions reduction target of 28% by 2020 compared with a 2011/12 baseline. This is in line with the NHS targets as required by the Climate Change Act (2008).  Currently, the Trust is on target to achieve this with a 24.79% reduction achieved in 2017/18.

For more information on the sustainability performance of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, please contact – adminteamestates@nhft.nhs.uk

What is NHFT doing?

Here you will find a summary of all the various sustainability projects that NHFT is working on.

  • 2% reduction in energy, waste and travel.
  • Coffee cup discount scheme.
  • Cycle to work scheme.
  • Pool cars - Hybrid and low emission vehicle scheme.
  • Travel plan.
  • LED replacement lighting being rolled out.

Governance

  • Quarterly sustainability committee meetings.
  • Annual completion of Carbon Footprint report.
  • Sustainability Development Mangement Plan.
  • Annual completion of Sustainability Development Action Tool.

NHS Initiatives

The National Health Service has initiatives in place to help NHS Trusts achieve the transition to a sustainable healthcare system. A sustainable healthcare system is one that works within the limits of social, economic and environmental resources.

Ven diagram about sustainable health & care system in relation to social, environmental and economic As a part of the NHS, NHFT has a duty to help the UK’s carbon emission reduction target of 80% by 2050 against a 1990 baseline (Climate Change Act, 2008). There is a target of a 34% reduction by 2020, which NHFT is on track to achieve.

NHFT have produced a Sustainable Development Management Plan (SDMP) which forms a key part of the sustainable healthcare journey. The SDMP describes our plan for being a more sustainable healthcare provider.

Combined with the SDMP, we also use the Sustainable Development Unit’s Sustainable Development Assessment Tool (SDAT) to measure progress. The SDAT is an online sustainability self-assessment system designed for NHS trusts and which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The SDAT is made of ten modules across four broad areas of sustainability;

  • Asset management and utilities.
  • Travel and logistics.
  • Green space and biodiversity.
  • Sustainable care models.

How does NHFT compare to other Trusts?

The SDU is funded by NHS England and Public Health England who monitor NHS organisations on the journey to sustainable healthcare.

The SDU undertakes an annual census of all NHS Trusts and CCGs to check their performance across 16 metrics. 

NHFT have produced a report which benchmarks our performance against 11 other Trusts. 

transport, procurement, energy, community, waste and food icon image

How you can get involved

At NHFT we encourage our staff to adopt our principles of sustainability not just at work but also at home. There are many choices we can all make to ensure the world we have today is here for tomorrow. You can find more information on making sustainable choices on the Green Choices website by clicking here.

Why not become a Trust Green Champion within your work place and help the Trust to further save it's carbon footprint. You can do this by.

  • Encourage staff to save energy and turn off office lights.
  • Encourage staff to think before they print.
  • Encourage staff to use the Trust's enterprise cars and thereby save on mileage costs.
  • Encourage staff to use recycled materials across the Trust such as stationery, furniture by checking the Forums on the Staff Room.  You can share your unwanted items here too, you may just be able to help another team out.
  • Encourage staff to use recycling bins where available.
  • Encourage staff to switch off computers and monitors when not in use.
  • Encourage others to become a staff green champion and help us to acheive our sustainable targets.

Any questions or have more ideas on how we can save, please contact savings.ideas@nhft.nhs.uk.

Energy and Water

Energy emissions and savings

Building energy use contributes to 24% of the health and social care systems total carbon footprint, as such it offers many opportunities for increased efficiency and financial savings. These savings can then be reinvested into further reductions and improved patient care.

All of our Trust sites have display energy certificates (DECs) and you can find these in the document folder below.  Here you will find DECS for:

  • Isebrook Hospital, Wellingborough for Abbey / Victoria Block, Beechwood, Block 15, 17 & 18 and Castle Unit
  • St Mary's Hospital, Kettering for Carey Block, Dryland Block, Forest Centre, Main Entrance and Blocks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 20 & 28, Sudborough House and Welland Centre
  • Danetre Hospital, Daventry for H Block and Main Block
  • Berrywood Hospital, Northampton
  • Campbell House and Newland House, Northampton
  • Cynthia Spencer Hospice, Northampton
  • Nuffield Diagnostic Centre, Corby
  • Willowbrook Health Centre, Corby

NHFT constantly monitors the consumption of electricity, gas and water across the whole estate and publishes this information as part of the annual Carbon Footprint report.

The table below summarises NHFT's carbon emissions from various sources, for the current year and previous years.

Carbon emissions (tCO2e)
SOURCE 2011/12 (baseline 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 % change from baseline
Electricity 5,411 5,045 3,982 3,889 3,909 -27.76%
Gas 3,834 3,038 3,157 3,124 3,144 -18.00%
Water 69 61 84 86 92 +33.33%
Waste 18 13 19 21 19 +5.50%
Travel 2,447 1,834 1,815 1,827 1,695 -30.73%
Direct footprint total 11,779 9.991 9.057 8,947 8,859 -24.79%
Procurement      11,069 18.843 21,445 20,158 19,316 +74.51%

What is NHFT doing?

NHFT has implemented a number of energy and water reduction strategies;

  • LED light installation
  • Low flush toilets
  • Installation of modern efficient boilers and controls
  • Improvement of building insulation
  • Installation of new more efficient glazing and secondary glazing.
  • Upgrading of heat pumps for more modern and efficient alternatives.

Energy report

Berrywood Hospital, Northampton and the Welland Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Kettering both have annual energy reports produced by the PFI facilities management contractors.  The PFI contracts have energy targets set in place, which the contracts are measured against throughout the year.  The Energy target is reviewed every three years.  The rest of the NHFT estate has its energy and water consumptions monitored on a regular basis and any deviation from the set budgets, are investigated straight away and recorded in the Trust's annual energy report.

Image of energy icon for sustainability work across NHFTHow you can get involved

Whether you’ve already implemented some energy saving solutions or are yet to consider the options available, The Energy Saving Trust has a variety of information and tips to help. You can view this information online here

Do you want to become a Green champion?  Please contact estates.admin@nhft.nhs.uk

 

Waste

Reducing waste

NHFT is committed to reducing the amount of waste produced from all activities. We use a variety of measures to achieve this.

The Trust uses the waste hierarchy as the primary approach for reducing waste, the diagram below explains the principle of the waste hierarchy. 

Image describing the pyramid of waste from most favoured to least favoured options

 

 

 

All waste produced by the Trust which cannot be recycled is transferred to an energy recovery plant, avoiding disposal in a landfill.

The Trust also has ambitious targets to increase waste recycling by 2% annually, measured as a percentage of the total waste volume.

The most favoured options for reducing waste are prevention and minimisation. As such, the Trust has a variety of systems in place to avoid unnecessary purchase and the waste that results.

The Trust also has a re-use scheme in place through the Staff Room, NHFT’s intranet, which allows staff to request items and place items up for use by other members of staff.

Dried mixed recycling is operated across the Trust estate, the following wastes are segregated on-site and recycled;

  • All forms of paper
  • Corrugated cardboard and boxes
  • Steel and aluminium cans
  • Plastic bottles
  • Plastic films
  • Hard plastics

Image of waste icon for sustainability work across NHFT Waste reduction tips for staff

The following are some simple tips that staff can implement to help contribute to the Trust’s goals and improved sustainability.

  • Consider the need for printing and the benefits of moving to digital and away from paper
  • Where printing is necessary ensure double sided printing is enabled
  • Consider if scrap paper use could be worthwhile
  • Segregate waste into the correct recycling, contaminated recycling can affect the usability of other wastes in the same bin
  • Opt-for reusable bottles and coffee cups instead of single use

Transport and travel

NHFT's transport and travel plans

The health and social care system accounts for a significant proportion of road traffic in England. 5% of all road travel is attributed to the NHS, which in turn accounts for 13% of the total NHS carbon footprint. NHFT’s carbon emissions for travel are recorded and reported annually as part of the NHFT Carbon footprint report.

Travel plan

NHFT is currently in the process of developing a travel plan which will include encouraging active travel to work. There are a number of health and environmental benefits for individuals and the wider community by opting to cycle or walk to work. The travel plan will also seek to reduce parking congestion at trust sites and seek to increase the attractiveness of public transport.

Cycle to work scheme

NHFT also takes part in the cycle to work scheme which enables staff to save 25 – 39% on a bike and accessories through a salary sacrifice scheme. More information can be found online here. https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/

Travel survey

The Trust conducts an annual travel survey for staff and patients to monitor trends on how people access the Trust’s services. This information is then used to inform strategic decisions for promoting active travel and other options for reducing the social and environmental impact of Trust travel.

Transport iconEnterprise Car Club

The Trust has a number of Enterprise Car Club vehicles located at various NHFT sites, these are either Hybrid or Low emission vehicles available for staff to access to transport patients or carry out their work duties. The Trust also has a vehicle salary sacrifice scheme available for staff which offers carbon emissions limited vehicles for staff.

Food

Reduction in food waste

Our Hotel Services Catering department monitors suppliers to make sure we purchase the best value products at all times.  All of our major suppliers have a sustainability statement, and wherever possible we use local suppliers. 

Since April 2018 we have made the move to Vegware takeaway disposables which provides a low carbon renewable alternative to standard disposables.  Vegware can be composted and is designed to be recycled with food waste.  Where Vegware products are not suitable or available for use then sustainable alternatives are sourced.

Image of food icon for sustainability work across NHFTCafe Vie re-useable cups

Café Vie are pleased to support the use of your own re-useable cups.  Every time you re-fill your own cup you will save 10p on your hot drink from Café Vie. This discount is only available during normal opening hours and does not apply to the hot drink vending machines.  Please note in the interest of hygiene your cup must be clean and ready to receive your drink. We also have our own Bamboo Cups on sale.

Since April 2018 Café Vie has gone from 14 “10p off” own cup discounts to 91 in March 2019 – this is a great step forward in improving our sustainability and reducing take away cup waste.