A new £6.5 million research hub, spearheaded by the University of Exeter, will explore innovative ways to help the NHS cut its carbon footprint. It is one of seven centres across the UK benefiting from a £42 million government investment aimed at tackling different net-zero challenges.
The Exeter-led hub will collaborate with partners across the country to develop sustainable solutions that support the NHS in achieving its net-zero target by 2045. According to the centre’s director, Professor Ed Wilson, the research will examine the entire patient journey within the NHS and social care to pinpoint key areas of high carbon emissions and find ways to neutralise them.
Although the NHS has made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint, with an 80% reduction in direct emissions from 1990 levels expected by 2030, challenges remain. Emissions from transport, waste, and the supply chain - such as the production of medicines, medical devices, and hospital essentials - have continued to rise. Professor Wilson emphasised that the project goes beyond cutting travel and waste, focusing on helping NHS suppliers redesign their processes to lower emissions.
The initiative will bring together leading organisations in the South West, including the Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Trust, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and Volunteer Cornwall. Adrian Harris, chief medical officer at the Royal Devon, highlighted the hub’s role in advancing pioneering research, while Dr Beth Chapman from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust stressed the importance of sustainability in securing a resilient healthcare system for the future.
