patient satisfaction rating of good, very good or excellent (Patient satisfaction survey carried out by Howard Warwick & Associates, Jan - Sept 2009)
Environment initiatives
Water
Water is a relatively small contributor to carbon emissions but is disproportionately affected by climate change. As part of this programme, we propose to reduce the amount of water we use through:
Water-saving shower fittings
Water-saving toilet flush fittings
Rainwater collection systemsn Leak detection
Purchasing and Logistics
Business travel using GHG vehicles accounts for only 3 percent of our current known carbon emissions. We do not currently measure the carbon impact of the supply chain that delivers directly to our hospitals, for example, in the way that food miles are derived. More work will be required in this key area to assess its impact on our indirect carbon footprint.
During 2009/10 GHG will consider the following initiatives:
‘Series’ or distributed delivery – stock moved from hospital to hospital rather than central distribution.
Use of dual fuel, LPG/diesel and CNG powered vehicles.
Reduction in suppliers’ delivery schedules
‘Freight Best Practice’ guidance.
Supplier rationalisation to reduce number of site deliveries
Specification of goods and services to reflect green agenda e.g. reusable drapes and gowns for theatres
Decreases in business travel through video and web conferencing
Corporate Asset Management and Capital Investment Strategy
GHG owns and operates more than 60 private hospitals and walk-in centres, as well as ancillary offices and buildings. Maintenance standards of these properties need improving to incorporate carbon management, in particular with regard to energy and water. We are developing long-term plans to review the way in which heating and cooling systems are operated, as part of a strategy to replace them progressively with more energy efficient systems and renewable energy sources.
Our overriding aim is to incorporate carbon reduction measures into our corporate asset management and capital strategy, with the following key objectives:
Optimise the contribution of property to meet the objectives of the carbon management programme.
Build carbon assessment into lifecycle costs for replacement or additional capital plant or equipment.
Ensure buildings operate to minimum carbon efficiency standards.
Develop capital replacement programme to support the objectives of the carbon management programme.
Ensure our buildings meet current environmental legislative requirements.
Ensure new buildings and refurbishments are carried out to BREEAM ‘excellent’ criteria to minimise their carbon impact.*
The ‘Big Turn Off’ has created initial focus and action across the estate. In order, however, to reduce our impact on the environment significantly, and meet our targets and future legislation, our focus in 2009/10 will be on delivering the wider strategy. Changing staff behaviour will continue to be fundamental to our carbon management success.
* BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a building’s environmental performance.
