Cymraeg
English Sustainable Healthcare in Wales
In April 2019, the Welsh Government declared a climate emergency in Wales, and two years later published its plan for a “net-zero” NHS by 2030. In response to this pledge, the NHS Wales Decarbonisation Strategic Delivery Plan was released.
NHS Wales Decarbonisation Strategic Delivery Plan (gov.wales)
Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW) have a role to support the implementation of this plan, but we can all play a part.
The Lancet describes climate change as “the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century”.
Thinking about climate change can be frightening (this is a normal response to devastating news, and we call this eco-distress). Recognising the way that we feel, and acting, can help us to feel more positive.
Some small actions that you, as a dental health professional in Wales, could take include:
- Joining your local Green Group (there’s one in every Health Board).
- Looking at the resources available on Green Health Wales website and consider registering your practice for the Greener Primary Care Wales Framework and Award Scheme.
Greener Primary Care - Primary Care One (nhs.wales)
- Promote active travel options and the use of public transport for the staff and patients attending the practice.
- Offer patients the opportunity to recycle oral hygiene products in your practice.
- Reduce the use of paper in your practice.
- Improve segregation of clinical and non-clinical waste in the practice.
Dentistry is facing many challenges to help tackle the problem, particularly around decontamination, waste disposal and the use of single-use plastics. NHS dental services emissions make up 3% of the overall carbon footprint of the NHS.
If you are interested in learning more about Sustainability in Dentistry, the link below will direct you to an excellent resource on the website of the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare.
Sustainable Dentistry: How-to Guide for Dental Practices | Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
Sustainable Healthcare provides hope for a healthier future and a healthier planet.
This is why the Lancet also describes climate change as “the greatest opportunity to redefine the social and environmental determinants of health”.