The website of the Health Estate Journal

Newcastle Trust ‘leads way’ on climate change action

Last summer The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, became the world’s first healthcare organisation to declare a Climate Emergency.

Last summer  The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, one of England’s largest acute teaching hospital Trusts, which reportedly operates more specialist services than any other, became the world’s first healthcare organisation to declare a Climate Emergency – a move backed by its Chief Executive and Board in response to climate experts’ warnings that at the current rate the world stands little chance of meeting the greenhouse gas reduction emission targets set out in the Paris Agreement of 2015. As HEJ’s editor, Jonathan Baillie, discovered when he spoke by phone with the head of Sustainability, James Dixon, the milestone was the latest step in over a decade’s work by the Trust to embed sustainability across its activities wherever, and whenever, possible.

The Trust’s concerted drive to operate more sustainably in a raft of different areas – from increasing the volume of non-clinical waste it recycles, and sending zero waste to landfill since 2011, to reducing its use of anaesthetic gases with a high Global Warming Potential (GWP) at its two acute hospitals in Newcastle – the Freeman Hospital and the Royal Victoria Infirmary – was highlighted at a packed IHEEM CPD regional seminar held on 30 January this year at St James’ Park, the home of Newcastle United FC. There, at an event kindly sponsored by Sharpsmart, a mixture of IHEEM members, other Trust personnel (joined by staff from other north-east England NHS Trusts), supplier representatives, architects, construction personnel, and senior university staff, heard from three speakers on some of the wide range of carbon-cutting initiatives taken by the Trust, Newcastle University, and local Passivhaus-certified architects – all playing their part in ensuring that large public sector bodies contribute effectively to helping the UK meet the stringent carbon emission reduction targets set out in the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol. Speaking at the event – attended on IHEEM’s behalf by the Institute’s Marketing & Events manager, Melissa Glass, and COO, Tania Davies – were James Dixon, Matt Dunlop, his counterpart as head of Sustainability at Newcastle University, and Mark Siddall, Principal at Durham-based ‘low energy architectural practice’, LEAP, which dubs itself ‘Northern England’s leading Passivhaus architect and low energy consultant’.

A milestone for a healthcare organisation

Log in or register FREE to read the rest

This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text. If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
Register

Upcoming Events

The Fire Safety Event 2024

National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham
30th April - 2 May 2024

Wales regional conference, exhibition and awards dinner 2024

International Conference Centre (ICC) Newport
28th - 29th May 2024

NAHFO National Conference 2024

Crowne Plaza Newcastle Upon Tyne
3rd - 5th June 2024

Design in Mental Health 2024

Manchester Central
4th - 5th June 2024

InstallerSHOW 2024

National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham
25th - 27th June

Healthcare Estates 2024

Manchester Central
8th-9th October 2024

Access the latest issue of Health Estate Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Health Estate Journal app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

The Fire Safety Event 2024

National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham
30th April - 2 May 2024

Wales regional conference, exhibition and awards dinner 2024

International Conference Centre (ICC) Newport
28th - 29th May 2024

NAHFO National Conference 2024

Crowne Plaza Newcastle Upon Tyne
3rd - 5th June 2024

Design in Mental Health 2024

Manchester Central
4th - 5th June 2024

InstallerSHOW 2024

National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham
25th - 27th June

Healthcare Estates 2024

Manchester Central
8th-9th October 2024

Access the latest issue of Health Estate Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Health Estate Journal app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025