Be a good corporate citizen, NHS told

12 March 2010

A new website will help hospitals and health centres save up to £480m a year on energy and waste bills, as well as improve the health and wellbeing of local communities.

The Good Corporate Citizenship website, developed by the Sustainable Development Commission, will help NHS Trusts understand the wider implications of their decisions, helping them to reduce their environmental impact.

“The NHS currently spends £480m each year on energy bills and dealing with waste” said Will Day, chair of the Sustainable Development Commission.

“The new model provides tools and information to make all areas of operations more sustainable.”

Day said that Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust had increased their recycling by 15 times in a year, saving more than £150,000 by diverting it from landfill and generating income from waste metal.

Day added that NHS organisations can also improve the long-term health of their local communities, by encouraging staff, visitors and some patients to walk or cycle.

“This reduces air pollution, carbon emissions, congestion and collisions, while improving people’s fitness and tackling obesity.”

Other examples of sustainable achievements include the new Kentish Town Integrated Health Centre in Camden, which is 12 times more energy efficient than its previous building, using natural light, passive cooling and solar panels.