patient satisfaction rating of good, very good or excellent (Patient satisfaction survey carried out by Howard Warwick & Associates, Jan - Sept 2009)
Environment initiatives
Environment initiatives
During the last year, GHG increased its focus on the direct and indirect impact our business has on the environment. In 2008/9, we launched a group-wide initiative to deliver excellence across procurement and supply chain management, facilities management, property development, catering and housekeeping. Central to this, is our carbon management programme, EcoNomics, which involves changing business practices across our hospitals and offices, affecting all staff, to reduce our impact on the environment.
Our initial focus has been on energy initiatives, however going forward the programme will cover:
Energy
Waste
Water
Purchasing and Logistics
Asset Management & Capital Investment
The Carbon Trust, commissioned last year to review the carbon emissions of our business, estimated our total carbon footprint at 42,419 tonnes. This was primarily composed of energy used in our hospitals. This work has provided a clear focus in the short term to reduce our energy consumption through The Big Turn Off initiative, which has been the main focus of activity this year. In the meantime, further planning and research continues to shape a broader strategy for 2009/10 and beyond.
Energy - The ‘Big Turn Off’
In December 2008, a conference was held for engineering managers from each of our hospitals. This provided the required momentum to drive essential changes in behaviour, attitude and practice to reduce energy consumption. The engineering managers generated a work plan that local teams have started to implement across the estate.
To help raise awareness of the carbon management programme, we adopted a campaign approach to turn these ideas into reality
at each site.
The ‘Big Turn Off’ was launched in February 2009. To date, sites have established green teams, led by a champion, across engineering, housekeeping, catering and theatres that meet monthly to assess progress against the work plan.
In addition to local governance, we established a project board to monitor progress and actively encourage support throughout
the company.
Effective measuring and reporting is key to influencing energy use. Every week our Green Champions at each site receive a ‘dashboard’ report displaying day-on-day and weekly usage to highlight progress and help local teams to focus on where they can make a difference. Results are published monthly showing variances in consumption over time, highlighting trends and year-on-year movement. Progress has been encouraging: by May 2009, 17 hospitals had reduced their year-on-year consumption by between seven and 20 per cent. This has provided a solid platform to deliver our annual target of 10 per cent reduction in energy consumption.
EcoNomics – a forward view
Although this year GHG has focused its efforts mainly on use of energy, we recognise that our carbon footprint is a consequence of other activities associated with running our business. During the next twelve months and beyond, we aim to deliver a broader programme, across waste, water, purchasing and logistics and asset management and capital investment, promoting the concept that small changes to our day-to-day activities can make a big difference to our impact on the environment.
Waste
Next to energy consumption, sending waste to incineration or landfill represents the highest carbon emitting activity across the business. Our staff can relate easily to this highly visible area, and engage to make a difference in how we manage our waste. In 2009/10 we will focus on the following areas:
Reduction in the amount of waste that currently is incinerated or goes to landfill
Increased recycling at offices and hospitals
Clearer guidance and management of segregated waste streams to ensure compliance
Guidance for contractors on disposal of building waste
