Environmentally-friendly plans to improve sustainability at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust have been outlined in a new Green Plan.
The plan will guide the Trust's drive to deliver significant sustainability improvements as part of its contribution to delivering a Net-Zero NHS.
Aaron Cummins, Chief Executive, said: "This Green Plan is an important next step in UHMBT’s sustainability journey, bringing together environmental targets from across our operations for the first time to form a route map towards net zero by 2040.
"Although 2040 may sound a long way away, we aim to achieve an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions as soon as 2028. That ambitious target means there is no time to waste.
"Colleagues within our Trust have already made good progress in improving the sustainability of our operations. This plan aims to build on what we have achieved so far and combine various programmes of activity into a single sustainability vision."
The Green Plan has designed to address sustainability across every aspect of the Trust's work, from heating and electricity to specialist areas like prescribing medicines with a low carbon footprint. Examples of these improvement targets include:
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Continually increase our renewable energy purchases until 100% of our electricity is provided by non-fossil fuels
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Deliver at least 25% of outpatient activity remotely
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Eliminate use of volatile anaesthetic gas Desflurane
The plan has been drafted with the understanding that there will be a need for flexibility in order to proactively adapt to the ever-changing landscape of sustainability.
It also takes into account the geographical challenges faced by UHMBT as a multi-site organisation covering a large region.
Development of the Green Plan has brought together colleagues from all over UHMBT, who have worked collaboratively to develop the new sustainability vision.