GGHH News

Welcome to our new GGHH Pacific members!

We’re delighted to welcome the following health institutions as members of the Global Green & Healthy Hospital (GGHH) network:

• Hospitals North, Tasmanian Health Service (Tas)
• The Royal Childrens Hospital (Vic)
• Vision Eye Institute (Aus wide)
• Monash Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food (Vic)
• Public Health Division of the South Australian Department for Health and Wellbeing (SA)
• Northern Territory Department of Health (NT)

The GGHH Pacific network now has 148 members! Together, we represent 2,386+ hospitals and health services across Australia and New Zealand. It’s wonderful to see more health institutions committed to tackling their environmental footprint.

Not part of the network? Find out how you can join — it's free!

Greening the Healthcare Sector Forum - early bird registrations now open

We're thrilled to announce that early bird registrations are open for Greening the Healthcare Sector Forum! In person tickets include catering and offsets for the carbon emissions associated with the forum. For organisations that wish to stream the event at their own venue for staff, there is an option for online group admission. Early bird closes 13th June. Stay tuned for the program coming soon! Register here.

GGHH Case Studies

Facilitating Environmentally Sustainable and Climate Resilient Healthcare | Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service 

SCHHS participated in a collaborative research project with Griffith University and GGHH to facilitate the transition to sustainable and climate resilient healthcare and contribute to the emerging evidence base, while maintaining high quality, equitable health care. This included a staff survey of attitudes and knowledge, and developing and evaluating a workplace Environmental Sustainability Checklist to provide a mechanism for practice improvement at ward, unit or work group level. Read the summary. GGHH members can access the full case study on GGHH Connect.

Sustainable Healthcare News 

National Health and Climate Strategy - consultation now open! 

The consultation on Australia's first National Health and Climate Strategy is now open! This is a huge milestone for climate and health policy in Australia. The consultation closes in approximately 6 weeks time on 24 July 2023.

The Consultation Paper can be found here. CAHA is doing a comprehensive analysis of the strategy and will be putting out a submission guide to assist members and stakeholders to respond with appropriate feedback.

Environmental Sustainability Award - NSW Health Awards

The Environmental Sustainability Health Award is a new award that recognises achievements in reducing NSW Health's environmental footprint, whilst continuing to deliver high quality healthcare and patient experience. Nominations close 14 July. Read more. Each NSW Health organisation can enter one project in each category. All nominations are to be submitted via Local Liaison Officers (internal link for NSW Health staff).

Midwives go green

The Green Maternity Intervention led by midwives at Western Health’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital resulted in a 71% decrease in clinical waste and 48% reduction in waste management costs. Read more. 

Ecological planning of the health system - Roadmap - Ministry of Health and Prevention - France

The French Ministère de la Santé  launched the French roadmap for sustainable  healthcare in collaboration with key health and care organisations in France. The seven axes include building and energy management; Sustainable purchases; Eco-responsible care; Waste from the sector; Training and research in ecological transformation; Sustainable mobility; Environmental impact of digital. Read more.

Plastic Free July Morning Tea

Across the globe, communities are inspired by the Plastic Free Morning Tea — a popular way of making and sharing food, fun and conversations about plastic free solutions. We encourage readers to host a Plastic Free Morning tea at your workplace. More info and resources here.

HealthShare NSW trials robotic scrubbing device and electrolysed water pilot programs

The most recent Institute of Hospitality in HealthCare features an article about a trial at two public hospitals in NSW of electrolysed water. Read it here. 

Connecting with partners for impact: Health Research Council of New Zealand

The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new research investment mechanism – the ‘Connecting for Impact Fund’. This fund replaces the previous Partnership Programme and contributes to a strategic, proactive and equitable approach to the targeted investment portfolio. The first research priority for 2023 will focus on climate change and its impacts on health and wellbeing. More information.  

Call for entries | International Hospital Federation Awards 2023

These awards recognize the excellence and outstanding achievements of hospitals and health service providers demonstrated through their projects, programmes, or services. This includes an Excellence Award for Green Hospitals. Submissions close 16 June. Read more.

Horizon Prize 2023 

The Horizon Prize 2023 seeks solutions that decrease the environmental impact of the rare disease health care space and alleviate burdens for rare disease families. Prize finalists will be invited to showcase their solutions on stage at the 2023 Concordia Annual Summit during the UN General Assembly week in New York City in September and the selected winner will receive $150,000. Applications close June 23. Read more. 

Call for entries | Premier's Sustainability Awards 

Sustainability Victoria is excited to once again deliver the Premier’s Sustainability Awards in 2023. Celebrating its 21st year, the prestigious awards program continues to adapt to reflect the depth and innovation of sustainability within industry, business and community across Victoria. Submissions close 30th June. Apply here. 

Education and Events

NHMRC Partnership Centre for Health System Sustainability Research Showcase

Macquarie University and online, 16 June 2023

The event celebrates the culmination of six years of research into improving the sustainability of healthcare systems by NHMRC Partnership Centre for Health System Sustainability investigators and system partners. More info.

Taiao. Tangata. Hauora. Advancing Planetary Health — Climate Health and Sustainable Healthcare in Aotearoa

Wellington and online (with Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin hubs), 5-6 July 2023

The conference theme has a focus on mātauranga Māori, challenging delegates to become more connected and knowledgeable and shift the paradigm towards environmental sustainability and climate resilience. The programme will include a series of presentations interspersed with interactive and panel discussions. More info.

Climate Adaptation 2023

Adelaide Convention Centre, 24-27 July 2023

The conference focuses exclusively on climate vulnerability, impacts and adaptation. It is an opportunity to share knowledge and experience, to network and strengthen the growing community of adaptation practice and research in Australia. Read more.

International Preventing Overdiagnosis conference

Copenhagen, 14-16 August 2023

Hosted by The Danish College General Practitioners, this conference brings together lively plenary debates about controversial and timely issues. This includes overdiagnosis and sustainability of healthcare for patients, clinicians, communities and the planet. Abstracts and registrations are open. More info.

World Hospital Congress

Portugal, 25-27 October 2023

The World Hospital Congress of the International Hospital Federation is a unique global forum connecting leaders and decision-makers of hospitals, health services and healthcare organisations. The congress will be held in Portugal. Call for abstracts are open and will close on April 5. More info.

Climate and health at the International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare

Melbourne, 30 Oct - 1 Nov 2023 

This year, the International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare will address eight themes, one of which is ‘Sustainability, climate change and environmental impact on health’. More info.

Research, Resources, Reports

Research

What Facilitates Green Team Success in Implementing Environmentally Sustainable Initiatives in Health Care

International Journal of Nursing Student Scholarship, May 2023 

This literature review aimed to identify the factors that contribute to the success of environmentally sustainable initiatives in healthcare. 

Climate change and Australian general practice vocational education: a cross-sectional study

Fam Pract, May 2023

This research aimed to establish the prevalence and associations of Australian GP registrars' perceptions of climate change as it relates to public health, education, and workplaces. 

The Path to Sustainable Healthcare: Implementing Care Transition Teams to Mitigate Hospital Readmissions and Improve Patient Outcomes

Cureus, May 2023

This research describes the role of care transition teams in reducing readmissions and financial stress in hospitals. 

Sustainable general practice

May 2023

This article outlines the steps required to achieve and promote sustainability from practice operations through to clinical care and advocacy.

The carbon footprint of products used in five common surgical operations: identifying contributing products and processes

J R Soc Med, April 2023

This research evaluated the carbon footprint of products used within five common operations and the biggest contributors to carbon footprint. 

The environmental impact of health care for musculoskeletal conditions: A scoping review

PLoS ONE, November 2022

This scoping review mapped what is known about the environmental impact of health care for musculoskeletal conditions. 

The Role of Virtual Consulting in Developing Environmentally Sustainable Health Care: Systematic Literature Review

J Med Internet Res, December 2022

This systematic literature review assessed the impact of virtual consulting on environmental sustainability in healthcare. 

Resources

Removing harmful PVC from healthcare

HCWH Europe's latest publication, Towards PVC-free healthcare: Reducing environmental impact and exposure to harmful chemicals, provides a comprehensive overview of these risks and highlights the steps that healthcare providers are already taking towards a PVC-free future.

Green Feeding Tool 

The Green Feeding Tool calculates the carbon and water footprints of commercial milk formula (CMF) and helps illustrate the carbon offset that could be achieved by increasing breastfeeding and reducing commercial milk formula use. Read here. 

Anchored by health care: Strategies for health systems

This resource by HCWH US serves as a guide for health care anchor institutions to deepen their engagement with community partners to achieve goals for equity and resilience. It also allows you to assess where your organisation’s work falls in this spectrum of strategic planning with community partners and anchor institutions, and commit to doing more. Read here.

Sustainable Perioperative Care 

This resource by CASCADES provides background information and implementation resources designed to address environmental sustainability in perioperative care. The playbook goes beyond the operating room to consider perioperative care more broadly, including the ways in which upstream decisions impact the environmental footprint of care. Read here.

Practice Greenhealth food resources 

Practice Greenhealth has expanded and updated their food guidance and resources. Read here.

Reuse of furniture and equipment case studies

WarpIt has released several case studies featuring the NHS achievements in maximising the reuse of furniture and equipment. Read here.

Climate Resilient, Low Carbon Sustainable Pharmacy playbook

The Climate Resilient, Low Carbon Sustainable Pharmacy playbook is intended for Canadian pharmacy professionals including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, educators and trainees. It provides background information, resources and considerations to guide more climate resilient and environmentally sustainable pharmacy practice. Read here. 

Climate Action Nurses release their second Zine

Climate Action Nurses is an energetic and passionate group of dedicated nurses who are working together on important climate health and emissions reduction initiatives. Check out their first Zine – an online magazine with videos, links and information on the group and their initiatives.

Thanks for reading!

Share your sustainable healthcare success story

We want to profile stories of environmental initiatives in health (no matter how big or small) to show what is possible and inspire others to improve sustainability in their own workplace. If you have a project you'd like to share with us, let us know here or email [email protected]

Join GGHH

If you are interested in signing up your organisation to GGHH Pacific, find more information here or email [email protected]

If you were forwarded this newsletter and would like to receive it directly, sign up here.

Join CAHA

This newsletter is brought to you by Australia’s peak body on climate and health, Climate and Health Alliance. CAHA’s mission is to build a powerful health sector movement for climate action.

You can follow CAHA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Both individual health professionals and health organisations can become members of CAHA. If you like what we do, and would like to support our work, please donate!