Workforce, Networks and Leadership
Training and development related to climate change can help staff play their part and come up with innovative ideas.

This focus area includes:

• Adding a climate change section to all staff inductions
• Encouraging staff to take part in our Cycle to Work scheme
• Supporting hospitals to deliver their Green Plans

Sustainable Care
Providing care closer to home – in primary care (GP, opticians, pharmacy and dentists) or in the community – reduces journeys and readmissions to hospitals. So does better home and social care.

As well as providing better care for people, this will help to reduce carbon emissions!

This focus area includes:

• Designing care that is better for people and the environment
• Measuring if what we are doing is making a difference

Digital Technology
Using digital technology can reduce the amount of travel to healthcare appointments, and help our staff track thier timesheets and hours.

This focus area includes:

• Measuring by how much virtual appointments reduce carbon emissions
• Make the logging of staff hours easier and accessible

Travel, Transport, and Air Quality
In towns and cities, road vehicles are the main source of air pollution. Healthcare travel contributes to this, but people can also be affected by poor indoor air quality.

The most vulnerable people – children, older people and those with health conditions – are hit hardest by air pollution.

This focus area includes:

• Allowing remote working where suitable
• Using low and ultra low emission vehicles
• Encouraging the use of e-cargo bikes – electric bikes designed to carry loads
• Promoting greener travel for staff such as cycle to work and car share schemes
• Providing secure storage for bikes and more charging points for electric vehicles
• Working with West Midlands Travel the organisation responsible for transport policies in the region

Green Space & Bio Diversity
Places like parks, gardens, woodlands, canals and rivers are nice places to be. Spending time in them can help to improve our health and wellbeing!

They are also good for the environment as they improve air quality, reduce noise, provide shade, reduce temperatures and help to prevent flooding.

This focus area includes:

• Compiling information about the amount of green spaces on healthcare sites so we can make the most of them
• Encouraging GPs, hospitals and other healthcare providers to develop and enhance their local green spaces through activities
• Working with councils on relevant programmes

Social Value and Anchors
Social value is the wider social, economic and environmental benefits which ‘anchor’ organisations can bring to local communities when delivering their services.

This includes employment rights, having sustainable and ethical procurement practices and working with local partners.

This focus area includes:

• Taking social value into account when awarding contracts
• Paying our employees a Real Living Wage