Sustainability
We have a responsibility to protect and improve the health of our population – today and for generations to come.
Climate change is already shaping health outcomes, widening health inequalities and placing additional pressure on health and care services.
The joint Green Plan for both Dorset County Hospital and Dorset HealthCare sets out how we will respond to this challenge.
We are proud of the progress already made over the last few years. We have:
- reduced emissions through significant investment in energy efficiency, solar power and digital transformation
- supported greener clinical practice, including changes in anaesthesia and waste reduction
- embedded sustainability and social value into procurement decisions
- empowered colleagues, patients and partners to play their part
We also recognise that there is much more to do. Reaching net zero and embedding sustainability into everyday practice will require continued collaboration across organisations, professions and care pathways.
We will reduce our carbon footprint, take opportunities to positively contribute to our local environment and minimise our negative impact on public health and the environment.
- Our areas of focus are:
- Workforce and system leadership
- Net zero clinical transformation
- Digital transformation
- Medicines
- Travel and transport
- Estates and facilities
- Supply chain and procurement
- Food and nutrition
- Adaptation and resilience
- Greenspaces and biodiversity
- Sustainable buildings
We are also developing a Climate Change Risk Assessment to consider the impact of flooding, heatwaves and snow on our services and a joint Sustainable Travel Plan focusing on active travel, public transport, zero emission vehicles and how staff travel to work.
Progress with our Green Plan
Here are some recent examples relating to the Green Plan themes.
Improving our green spaces
We are working to improve gardens at DCH, sites include the Sensory Garden opposite Special Care Dentistry and Mark’s Meadow wildflower area with the support of Dobbies in the Community, Kingston Maurward college and Men’s Shed Dorchester and adjoining stakeholders. DCH is hosting an NHS Nature Recovery Ranger who is establishing wildlife count events and enlisting volunteers to get a baseline of wildlife on the site. This is part of the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare’s Healthy by Nature scheme.
Energy efficiency and generation
Significant progress in replacing lighting to Light-Emitting Diode (LED) with 90% achieved at DCH thanks to government funding.
We have also moved forward with solar schemes on the multi-storey car park, Portesham Unit and as part of our new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, which will save both energy and money.
