Promoting sustainability in NHS Plymouth
- a draft action plan (February 2009)

Aim
- for NHS Plymouth to become an organisation which actively promotes sustainability and reduces its carbon emissions

Context
The NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy is endorsed at the highest levels and provides clear directions for action. The Strategy also makes clear that this issues is very urgent.

Process
• March(+): Public Health to undertake the sustainability ‘self assessment’ exercise to assess the current performance of Plymouth PCT
• March(+): Public Health to prepare a scoping paper on promoting the carbon reduction strategy for the Plymouth PCT Board
• The Board to offer public support for a Plymouth NHS carbon reduction strategy
• Plymouth PCT to establish a high-profile cross-departmental Task Group to develop a full carbon reduction strategy

• The Task Group must engage with Commissioning to help ensure a crosscutting approach, including maximising influence over the Plymouth Hospital Trust (soon to be a Foundation Trust)

• We will build on the existing enthusiasm of some staff and ensure we engage with those who are disinterested
• We will work in partnership with all sectors to promote sustainability. (Example: to ensure that the renovation of social housing in the city produces sustainable & healthy homes)

Four key messages….

1) NHS Plymouth has a responsibility to promote sustainable development across our work

2) That promoting sustainability will save public resources in the shorter and longer terms

3) We will improve public health and wellbeing for all in the longer term by promoting sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions

4) It’s not pointless - we can and should make a difference as individuals!

Public Health Development Unit, Plymouth teaching Primary Care Trust (February 2009) 01752 315777