All organisations in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB footprint will need to designate ‘Board level Net Zero leads’, the system has announced.
The leads will form the ICS’ ‘Green Board’: a key aspect of its newly published Green Plan, launched in line with the wider NHS ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions.
The Board level leads will be expected to help their organisation embed sustainability practices into their business, and will oversee the implementation of its new plan.
In 2020, NHS England pledged to committing to reaching carbon net zero by 2040, with the view of reducing their emissions by 80% by 2028 to 2032. LLR ICB’s new Green Plan will cover a three year period, ending in July 2025.
The ICB’s plan will also see the system offer training to improve staff understanding of sustainable practices, with Green Plans to be incorporated into its staff induction process.
It also set out its intention to:
- Offer sustainable models of care, including using virtual consultations and providing care closer to home
- Build new buildings and major refurbishments in line with the NHS Net Zero Carbon standard
- Introduce organisation-level solutions to reducing emissions caused by the medicine supply chain
- Improve its transport links, including by introducing a temporary park-and-ride and upping personal and public bicycle storage.
Andy Williams, chief executive of the ICB, said: ‘Sustainability in healthcare is changing and we are committed to having a positive impact on both the planet and our local communities. The opportunities we have are diverse and will support us to reduce health inequalities and improve the health of our local population.
‘For example, by reducing air pollution we can reduce respiratory disease and by working with local suppliers and enabling and encouraging green travel we can improve environmental impacts and help reduce carbon emissions across LLR.
‘The ICS is intended to help the NHS support broader social and economic development and our new Green Plan places emphasis on the collaborative actions required to deliver desired outcomes and leveraging collective efforts to achieve benefits for the community and our local environment.’
Michael Simpson, director of estates, facilities and sustainability and the chair of the ICS Green Board, said: ‘The importance of this agenda cannot be underestimated. We feel the plan is realistic based on resources and availability of finances to invest. LLR has already been recognised nationally for its sustainable approach to transport and is now focused on delivering the plan which hits many disciplines and cannot be associated with just estates and facilities, it is so much more.’
