Briefing / Roundtable: greening up

The United Nations climate change conference, COP26, has sharpened the focus on reducing the NHS carbon footprint, which stands at around 5% of the overall UK total. The health service has a big role to play as the country continues the move towards net zero by 2050. All four UK health services have now committed to become net zero and build climate resilience through the COP26 health programme, part of a total of 47 countries agreeing similar ambitions. But it is not just about helping to meet that target. For the NHS, it is also about ensuring a deteriorating climate does not contribute to a worsening of the population’s health.

An HFMA roundtable, in association with Lexmark, heard how efforts towards greater environmental sustainability will affect NHS finance, and how finance managers can support the sustainability agenda.

The roundtable looked at a range of issues, including: the need to embrace the more holistic social value approach; the balance between net zero, cost reduction and quality improvements; and how digital platforms can increase understanding, support decision-making, and improve contract monitoring.