The NHS Vision for Sustainable health route map has been laid out on the 1st of February 2011 to help plan a 15% reduction of carbon emissions by the year 2015.
we have to cut our emissions by 10% during 2010 however it is not enough.
NHS doctors and nurses across the country will have to cut down on energy wasting utilities such as lights being turned off, and printer use measured to help the English health care be more environmentally friendly.
Shirley Phillips, a media spokesperson for the NHS, tells us about their campaign; “We had supported the 10:10 campaign last year in which we have to cut our emissions by 10% during 2010 however it is not enough. More has to be done particularly within the larger hospitals where waste management must be addressed.”
The Daily Telegraph has reported that the NHS wastes as much carbon emission as the Country of Croatia however, many branches have insisted on more extreme measures, such as stopping flower arranging classes and scrapping their air conditioning to be replaced by water powered coolers to help with their green causes. So how will this affect the patients experience on the Lancashire wards?
Liam Fenton, financial analyst for the NHS in Blackburn tells us what this plan may mean for his employer. “The main aspect the plan is looking at is energy saving, like turning printers off at night, and turning off lights when they are not needed. We are expected to cut emissions down by 80% by around 2050. There may be more extreme ideas like turning off the air conditioning, which may be uncomfortable to some patients, but there are plans to bring in alternative machines. At the moment there are no changes yet but hopefully there will be nothing to affect the patients stay on our wards.”
Many of the ideas raised have proven to be popular within the NHS, in particular flower arranging classes in London have already been started for ulcer patients to improve mobility without having to drive them to other hospitals using up car emissions. Edward Taylor, 56 currently a patient at the Royal Preston Hospital is pleased that the NHS is taking a greener approach. “If normal people have to save energy in their homes then the NHS should too. I’m glad that proper recycling will be brought in; the amount of waste that must come out of hospitals is unbelievable. David Wynn, 45, another patient however is concerned that the focus of emission cutting may mean less attention is given to the well being of patients. “First there was cost cutting now its emission cutting, I think the nurses will have so much to worry about that the attention we need will be forgotten about, why can’t the government let the doctors and nurses get on with it and leave the cutting to the NHS office workers.”
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