We are pleased to announce our Green Plan refresh for The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, for 2025-2028.

The refresh of the Green Plan aims to refocus engagement and action within the Trust’s control, working to achieve our net-zero and sustainability goals, as we recognise climate change as a critical public health issue.

Our key aims across the Trust are:

• To deliver high-quality care without exhausting resources or causing environmental
  damage to preserve resources for future generations.
• To develop ambitious net carbon zero plans, including decarbonising our estates.
• To embed sustainability into the heart of our organisation and lead on driving working
  practice towards using resources, like energy and water, more efficiently to reduce
  wastage.
• To engage and inspire our colleagues and patients to take actions that will collectively
  make a big impact.

Please read the full Green Plan here.

The Trust recognises its responsibility to find ways to deliver great healthcare that is also environmentally, socially and financially sustainable.  The Plan is our response to the challenges we face to reduce carbon emissions.  The NHS has become the first health system in the world to commit to ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2040 for those under its direct control, and by 2045 for those it influences.

We have already started to take some steps such as committing to reduce single-use plastic in the Trust, investing in LED lighting, increasing the number of recycling points across the Trust and rapidly increasing outpatient appointments held via telephone or video link in response to the COVID pandemic.  More of our staff are now working from home where appropriate and this results in fewer carbon emissions associated with travel.

Read a summary of our Green Plan below.  We will provide information about our progress in reports to the Board of Directors and will include this in our Annual Report.

In 2023/24 the Trust produced a detailed carbon report to review progress against the NHS England Net Zero carbon targets. The key findings were:

• The carbon footprint was reduced by 1% (188 tCO2e) in 2022/23 compared to the baseline year of 2019/20. Achieving the 2032 target necessitates an annual reduction of 1,322 tCO2e.
• Despite the recent reduction, there was a 4.8% increase from the previous year (2021/22 to 2022/23), totalling 862 tCO2e.
• Carbon intensity; average emissions per bed day 104.02 kgCO2e/BD, seeing a 2% increase since the baseline year.

Work to reduce emissions from travel has been underway since the adoption of the Green Plan, the Travel Plan for RHH has established targets for the site to reduce single-occupancy car journeys. We deliver various incentives for staff, patients, and visitors to improve active and sustainable modes of transport as they not only benefit the local environment by reducing pollution but also have multiple health and wellbeing benefits.

• We’re working with NX Bus and WMCA to encourage staff, patients, and visitors to travel by bus. So far over 200 codes have been redeemed within Dudley.
• In February 2024 we launched one month of free travel for staff who travel by car to work. So far over 400 members of staff have claimed this offer.
• Patient and visitor discount – 25% off day savers *
• We’re also working with services to reduce DNA rates and offering patients and families free day savers to increase attendance to appointments.

We’ve also created an interactive travel map to highlight cycling stands, bus stops and other travel information, some areas are only accessible for staff:  Travel Map for RHH

Patients and Visitors can claim 25% off bus day savers with National Express, these are valid on most bus services within the West Midlands including Diamond service. Claim your ticket here. We are working with TfWM and NX Bus to improve the travel offers for those who may struggle to attend appointments due to travel, more detail to come.

The Sustainability Lead has been working across the Trust to engage our staff, patients, and visitors with our Green Plan. Delivering events, training, and tea trolleys across the hospital helping expand the Green Team from 48 members to 100.

The Green Team is a voluntary group of staff who are passionate about making a green difference in their service area, supporting the Green Plan, and raising awareness amongst their colleagues.

The Green Team has various projects across the Trust including; Theatres, Pharmacy, Emergency Department, and Infection Prevention Control.

• The Pharmacy Team reintroduced ward-level medicine returns to pharmacy in 2023, the project has returned and redistributed 582 drugs, saving £19,225.38 and 15.8 tCO2e. They have also recently swapped plastic bags for reusable ones for delivering medicines to Wards.
• Theatres now use remanufactured devices saving close to £18,000 and 125 kgCO2e. These devices are collected and sent back to the company for identification, remanufacturing, and sterilisation, the Trust can buy the remanufactured devices at a reduced cost, creating a circular loop, reducing waste and saving money.

Other programmes of work that aren’t directly connected to the Green Plan such as Virtual Wards, also have an environmental impact. The IT Department have reviewed the impact of virtual wards and the reduction in patient travel.

• 12,311 miles avoid
• Saving patients and families 27 days
• 3,250 kg CO2e

The Trust has been delivering Virtual Outpatient appointments for several years, increasing accessibility to services, saving patients time and money, whilst reducing congestion and saving carbon emissions. Last year it was estimated that virtual outpatient appointments saved patients £8,620 and 19.42 tCO2e.