Net zero healthcare: a call for clinical action

Hello everyone and a warm welcome to our latest members! We really hope this network can become a hub for the sharing of resources and discussion around music therapy becoming a net zero profession.

With this is mind, it feels appropriate to share a recent article from the British Medical Journal entitled 'Net zero healthcare: a call for clinical action'.  The article states that healthcare is responsible for nearly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and that healthcare professionals are called on to effect change in three areas:

• reshaping individual practice
• influencing healthcare organisations
• setting clinical standards

The article goes on to suggest that reducing carbon output alone is insufficient. The authors suggest healthcare professionals must also work to reduce the incidence and severity of disease in order to decrease the amount and intensity of care required, as well as match the supply of health services to demand in order to avoid unnecessary treatments.

As music therapists, where do people feel we fit within this? Can anyone give any examples of reshaping individual practice, influencing healthcare organisations or setting clinical standards? And what work can we do to reduce the need for ours and other healthcare services, or become more efficient in matching demand to supply?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be most welcome in the comments below.