NHS Chief Sir Simon Stevens has this week announced the NHS and its staff will step up action to tackle the climate “health emergency” this year.

The initiative follows the launch of the Climate Assembly UK this week, which is discussing how the country can best get to ‘net zero’.

The causes of air pollution and climate change are often the same, so the ‘For a greener NHS’ campaign will help address both. The health and care system in England is responsible for an estimated 4-5% of the country’s carbon footprint.

Air pollution is linked to killer conditions like heart disease, stroke and lung cancer, contributing to around 36,000 deaths annually.

NHS England is establishing an expert panel to chart a practical route map this year to enable the NHS to get to ‘net zero’, becoming the world’s first major health service to do so.

Dr Nick Watts, of University College London, will chair the NHS Net Zero Expert Panel. The NHS in England is the only health-care system in the world that is routinely reporting on greenhouse gas emissions. The Expert Panel will look at changes the NHS can make in its own activities; in its supply chain; and through wider partnerships – thereby also contributing to the government’s overall target for the UK. The Panel will submit an interim report to NHS England in the summer with the final report expected in the Autumn, ahead of the COP26 International Meeting in Glasgow.

Kevin Cox, Managing Director at Energys Group comments “We are delighted to see Sir Simon Stevens pushing the energy agenda within the NHS. Energy waste must be eliminated across the organisation.

“It’s the right time to step up the pace. If greater energy savings can be made, it frees up much-needed funds which can be put directly back into front line services. We strongly urge NHS Trusts to act quickly on the move towards Net Zero and reap the multiple benefits. We stand ready and available to help our NHS customers deliver on these aims. We have plenty of proven methodologies and ideas to make this happen.”


Energys Group has been approved by the Essentia Framework (for NHS LED lighting) and is also an approved supplier under the YPO Framework. Both frameworks provide a free service to NHS Trusts to support the entire process from bidding for the Grant monies, through tendering the work and delivery of the solution.

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