An art competition has been launched as part of efforts by the RUH in Bath to improve sustainability and raise awareness of the need to reduce carbon emissions.
Photo courtesy of the RUH
Over the past year, the Royal United Hospital has introduced a number of initiatives aimed at reducing its impact on the environment.
Children and young people are being invited to submit artwork to the competition, on the theme of a healthy planet.
The art will be displayed across the RUH as a reminder for staff, patients and visitors of the importance of taking action against climate change to protect future generations.
The competition is being run in partnership with Art at the Heart, the RUH Trust’s art charity, and the Schools Climate Network.
Any child or young person who would like to enter should create their artwork on A4 paper and submit a photograph of it to [email protected] by 21st January 2022.
Cara Charles-Barks, Chief Executive of the RUH, said: “Climate change poses a major threat to our health as well as our planet.
“The environment is changing and this has direct and immediate consequences for our patients, the public and the wider NHS.
“Over the past year, despite the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve made great progress in reducing our impact on the environment, reducing our carbon emissions from gas and electricity by around 14% and ensure we as a Trust are fit for the future.”
An Energy Manager, a Net Zero Carbon Apprentice and over 90 Sustainability Champions, members of staff who have volunteered to support the cause, have been recruited to help the RUH achieve its environmental goals and drive forward change.
Other achievements at the RUH include:
Reducing the impact of anaesthetic gases
Across the NHS, anaesthetic gases are commonly used as a part of everyday surgeries. These gases alone are responsible for over 2% of all NHS emissions.
The RUH is addressing this by first focusing on Nitrous Oxide, as it has a higher global warming potential than the other gases used. A task force is in the process of being set up to analyse the use of Nitrous Oxide and find ways to reduce the use and wastage of the gas.
Enhancing the natural environment
The RUH is located on a 52-acre site. Where possible, schemes to enhance their green spaces and protect wildlife have been introduced.
To improve biodiversity on the site, a bug hotel and wildflower garden have been created, with plans for more to follow.
To mark COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in autumn this year, 26 trees were planted on-site.
There are also have plans to enhance the forest areas on the site by landscaping and planting edible flora to create a space for the benefit of staff, patients, visitors and wildlife for years to come.
Encouraging sustainable travel
Travel and logistics make up 14% of the NHS carbon footprint. At the RUH, steps have been taken to offer both patients and staff more sustainable modes of transport.
This has included:
- Doubling secure cycle storage space on-site
- Introducing electric fleet vehicles with one already in operation and plans for two more shortly
- Encouraging people who would normally drive to work to consider alternative options by introducing an eBike scheme for staff.
- A salary sacrifice scheme being introduced for staff, enabling them to lease electric vehicles at a reduced rate in early 2022.
The hospital has been supporting Bath and North East Somerset Council with the Clean Air Zone to improve the air quality in Bath with a ‘switch off when you drop off’ campaign to improve air quality on site by encouraging people to turn their engines off when stationary.
Ruth McNab, Sustainability Manager at the Royal United Hospitals Bath, said: “We’re very proud of all the initiatives we’ve introduced last year but we know we can go even further in 2022 and we’re excited to deliver on more of the ambitious targets set out in our Carbon Reduction Strategy.”
