“When one of us makes a sustainable decision, others around us are more likely to do the same.”

Katie Puplett our chief allied health professional reflects on what it means to be green for Greener AHP week.

“Allied health professionals are the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS, and with 400 AHPs working across our Trust, we play an important role in helping to make our NHS and planet a greener place.

“I’ve recently been lucky enough to hear how we’re progressing on our Trust journey to becoming Carbon Net Zero by 2040 and learning more about our social responsibility and sustainability strategy which will help us to do that. What stuck with me was the surprising fact that the carbon footprint of the NHS in England is equivalent to that of the whole of Croatia. This really puts the impact we make into perspective.

“When we talk about our carbon footprint this includes things such as our greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and the amount of waste we produce. But it also includes the negative impact that it has on people’s health and wellbeing.

“We might think that as one individual your everyday actions don’t make much difference to the bigger picture. But when one person makes a sustainable decision, others around them are more likely to do the same, which makes more of an impact that you think.

“So, rather than feeling like it’s an overwhelming thing, that we can’t do anything about, let’s break it down. Realistically we can’t all go out and buy electric cars or heat our homes with solar panels (not yet), but there are things that we can do right now to contribute at low or no cost. Here are just a few suggestions to think about, whether you’re an AHP or in another role:

• Could you cut down on the amount of paper you use for printing or note taking?
• Do you buy food in single use plastics? Could you put your sandwich in a tub rather than cling film or bring your own cup to work?
• Can you walk a mile rather than drive it?
• Do you always turn off lights and equipment when you’re not using them?
• Could you talk to others about the changes you make? Whether at work or at home, small conversations can spread big ideas!

“There are also some ways you can get involved more widely in the work we are doing as a Trust to be more sustainable. Some of our  AHPs have already signed up to be a member of our Green Team who are a passionate group of colleagues from across the Trust who are keen to make a positive change.

“We’re also looking at new Carbon Literacy for Healthcare training which will help us all understand the impact of our roles on the planet and give us actionable advice on what steps we can take to reduce our impact. One of our dietetic assistants in Barnsley has been involved in the e-bike pilot within the Trust with great success.

“On a personal level I’m trying to do at least one active meeting per week, meeting a colleague for a walk outside and using voice notes on my phone to capture action points rather than a notebook.

“I hope these small ideas will help you to feel empowered this week to make just one change to your work or personal life to help our planet.”

Thank you,

Katie

Greener AHP week runs from Monday 22 April to Friday 26 April, have a look on the NHS England Greener AHP Hub for further ideas and to get involved in events and activities happening throughout the week.

If you would like to find out more about the work we are doing as a Trust around sustainability, take a look at our social responsibility and sustainability strategy.