What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is generally defined as:

"Meeeting the needs of today, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs"

NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy for England (2009)

 

The Department of Health's strategy "Taking the Long Term View" (2008) provided a clear mandate for the NHS to engage in sustainable development.  The ambition of the NHS is to significantly reduce its impact on the environment, and to be a visible and effective public sector exemplar in sustainable development in general and carbon reduction in particular.

 

Sustainability within GHNHSFT 

The Trust recognises that, as a healthcare provider that promotes wellbeing, we have a responsibility to minimise our impact on the environment and ensure that our use of resources is efficient thus maximising the funds available for patient care.

As a large organisation we acknowledge the impact we have on the local economy, society and environment and are therefore committed to continually work to integrate sustainable development into our core business.

 

Sustainability Strategy

The Trust has a Sustainable Development Management Plan to ensure that we understand, commit to, and will realise our responsibilities as a public organisation and help to guarantee that we fulfil the needs of today without compromising those of future generations.

The strategy is supported by a Sustainability Action Plan.  This outlines projects and activities which will address sustainability throughout the Trust, covering areas such as staff awareness and engagement, through to technical schemes aimed at reducing the carbon emissions produced from buildings and equipment.

A number of sustainability objectives have been developed and will help steer the Trust towards further sustainable development.  National and local targets provide benchmarking for measuring and monitoring success.

Sustainable Development Management Plan 

Sustainable Development Management Plan Annexe 1

Sustainable Development Management Plan Annexe 2 

Good Corporate Citizenship

In the NHS, sustainable development is often referred to as good corporate citizenship.  The Good Corporate Citizenship (GCC) self assessment model was developed to help organisations assess their impact on the environment. 

 

Good Corporate Citizenship