Integrating environmental sustainability into QI offers a practical way for healthcare staff and students to contribute to building a Net Zero NHS as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report, while also improving care for patients. 

 

Sustainability is included within:-

• the latest NMC Standards of Proficiency for Midwives 

• the GMC outcomes for medical graduates 

• the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges QI curriculum 

• the World Federation of Occupational Therapists minimum standards for education (which include the incorporation of sustainability issues, which must now filter down to all the OT associations worldwide; the Royal College of Occupational Therapists latest learning standards address this with reference to the WFOT sustainability guiding principles.

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These requirements have yet to be translated into widespread practice and NHS sustainability efforts continue to take place separately from organisational Quality Improvement.

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The NHS in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales  have adopted ambitious carbon reduction targets that will not be achieved without the involvement of staff from every part of the organisation. SusQI has a transformational impact that guides daily professional practice through the development of a sustainability ‘lens’. and provides a practical framework that supports health workers to participate in the drive to create a low carbon and sustainable health service. 

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