The launch of the Greener Allied Health Professional hub!

Hello everyone! It’s always exciting to be at the forefront of positive changes, isn’t it? Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) have become the first workforce to produce a net carbon zero response in the form of the Greener AHP hub, which complements the ‘Delivering a Net Zero NHS’ published by Greener NHS just over a year ago (1^st Oct. 2020). As AHPs, we are in a prime position to effect change by promoting and delivering a more sustainable healthcare model, with emphasis on preventative care and public health. Some other suggestions from the Greener AHP hub for individuals who want to make positive changes are:-

• Continuing to make use of virtual platforms which have been used in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, e.g. offering telehealth appointments where possible
• Championing sustainable approaches, such as zero-paper, and the re-use of intervention materials where possible
• Supporting others you work with by raising awareness and promoting sustainable practice, recognising that small actions carried out by multiple people can have a big impact! Peer supervision sessions, team meetings, and CPD sessions are all great opportunities to discuss sustainability

There are also suggestions for actions at team, service, and trust wide levels.

The publication of this could not be more timely, with COP26 (the United Nations Climate Change Conference) mere weeks away. The COP26 Health Programme, identifies that commitments are required for climate resilient health systems and sustainable low carbon health systems.

It will be exciting to see other workforces publish their net carbon zero responses – hopefully in the coming weeks and months – and to see what impact COP26 has on the urgency with which sustainable practice is imbedded within the health service.