2nd NHS Sustainable Solutions Conference: Building a Greener NHS
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2nd NHS Sustainable Solutions Conference: Building a Greener NHS
Supporting a Sustainable NHS – A Pillar of the Fit for the Future Health System
As part of Fit for the Future: A 10-Year Health Plan for England, the NHS remains committed to delivering on its core sustainability objectives. Central to this vision is the goal of achieving net zero emissions for activities under direct NHS control by 2040, and for emissions the NHS can influence by 2045. These targets are fundamental to building a resilient, future-ready healthcare system.
The NHS continues to demonstrate leadership in the transition to clean energy, working in partnership with Great British Energy to expand solar power use across NHS and wider public sector estates. This collaboration highlights a broader commitment to decarbonising the health system and supporting the national shift to renewable energy.
Under the Health and Care Act 2022, all NHS organisations are now required to decarbonise operations, reduce environmental impact, and enhance climate resilience in line with statutory climate duties. These measures are essential not only to mitigating the effects of climate change but also to promoting long-term public health.
The NHS is at a pivotal moment in its sustainability journey. While progress toward net zero has already begun, reaching these ambitious goals will demand increased investment, bold innovation, and system-wide transformation. From infrastructure and service delivery to procurement and digital technologies, every facet of the NHS must evolve to meet the demands of a changing climate.
As Lord Darzi has emphasized, there is no contradiction between climate action and high-quality care. In fact, they go hand in hand—cleaner air, greener environments, and lower emissions all contribute to improved patient outcomes and reduced strain on healthcare services.
Importance and Timeliness of the Event
The NHS Sustainability Conference arrives at a pivotal moment, as the NHS intensifies its commitment to achieving ambitious net-zero targets while addressing the growing impact of climate change on public health. With the NHS responsible for around 4% of the UK’s carbon emissions, its role in the national drive for sustainability is critical.
This event serves as a unique platform for healthcare leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts to collaborate, share innovations, and tackle key challenges such as capital funding, emissions from healthcare operations, and sustainable infrastructure development. The conference is especially timely, as the NHS faces complex challenges—from reducing harmful nitrous oxide emissions in hospitals to transitioning to a zero-emission ambulance fleet by 2040.
Key Content Streams:
- Pathways to Net Zero: Explore strategies for achieving NHS net-zero goals by 2040/2045, focusing on overcoming funding challenges to implement sustainable technologies.
- Decarbonising NHS Healthcare Estates: through Green Energy, Infrastructure Retrofits, Sustainable Design, and Emission Reductions Zero-Emission
- Ambulance Fleet: Examine plans to make all new ambulances zero-emission by 2030, and the entire fleet by 2040, covering infrastructure needs and funding.
- Synergy of Health and Climate Goals: Highlight how climate action supports public health, reducing burdens like respiratory illness, and reinforcing NHS’s role in environmental and patient well-being.
- Discussing effective strategies to promote sustainability in healthcare: by engaging healthcare professionals in sustainable practices and encouraging patient involvement in environmental conservation.
Sponsors & Partners
Who will Attend
- Heads/Directors Net Zero Delivery
- Heads/Directors of Sustainability
- Transport Services Directors/Managers
- Heads of Infection Prevention & Control
- Clinical Directors
- Medical Directors
- Consultant Anaesthetists
- Directors of Nursing
- Heads of Waste Management
- Heads/Directors of Estates
- Heads/Directors of Facilities Management
- Heads of catering Services
- Heads/Managers of Laundry & Cleaning Services
- CTOs
- CFOs
- Heads of Programme Delivery
- Environmental Compliance Officers
- Heads of Decontamination & Sterile Services
- Occupational Health and Wellbeing Managers
- Energy Efficiency Leads
- Heads/Managers of Environmental Health
- Carbon reduction Analysts
Your Pass Includes....
- Access to a leading conference speaker programme
- Interactive Q&A sessions
- Fireside interviews
- Cross-sector best practice
- Meet the supplier opportunities
- Hot breakfast & Lunch included
- Access to post event drinks reception and Street food
Tickets For NHS Senior Managers
We have an invite only option for NHS Senior Managers for our conference, to see if you qualify for a complimentary place please click the button below.
Event Speakers
Alexandra
Hammond
Associate Director, Net Zero and Sustainable Supply Chain
NHS England
Read biography
Dr Diana
Shroff
Junior Clinical Fellow with Sustainability (in Critical Care)
Adult Critical Care, St George’s Hospital, London
Read biography
Greg
DelBene
Global Product Marketing Manager for Vacuum and Abatement Technology Innovation Manager
BeaconMedaes
Read biography
Gurnak Singh
Dosanjh
Deputy CCIO | Digital Healthcare Consultant | CSO | ICB Clinical Lead
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
Read biography
Janet
Smith
Head of Sustainability
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Read biography
Richard
Charter
Founder & Managing Director CHLOE Healthcare Advisory Group, Senior Advisor to Vamstar
Vamstar, CHLOE Healthcare Advisory Group
Read biography
Sam
Coombes
Lead Medicine Information and Sustainability Technician
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Read biography
The programme
Registration & Networking
Registration & Networking
Chair Opening Address (Confirmed)
Chair Opening Address (Confirmed)
Keynote Presentation - To the future of Inhaler recycling (Confirmed)
We will be discussing an inhaler recycling scheme that was launched in East Kent and has already shown positive results. The initiative uses an innovative logistics model designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the collection phase. Patients are able to return used or unwanted inhalers at GP surgeries, community pharmacies, and acute hospital sites. We will explore the reasons for establishing the scheme and highlight the environmental and healthcare benefits of inhaler recycling.
Panel Discussion - Pathways to Net Zero: Overcoming Funding Challenges to Achieve NHS Sustainability Goals
Experts will explore strategies to achieve the NHS’s ambitious net-zero goals by 2040 for emissions the NHS controls directly, and by 2045 for emissions the NHS can influence.
The panel will address innovative solutions and approaches for reducing carbon emissions within the healthcare system, emphasising ways to overcome funding challenges that often hinder the adoption of sustainable technologies.
Panellists:
- Facilitator: Simon Rowland, Sustainability Manager, NHS London Procurement Partnership (Confirmed)
- Andrew Grimes MSc, MRICS, Associate Director Property and Capital Development, Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Provisionally Confirmed)
-
Dr Diana E. Shroff MBBS BSc (Hons), Junior Clinical Fellow with Sustainability CTICU, St George's Hospital (Confirmed)
- Nicole Fletcher, Head of Net Zero and Sustainable Procurement, NHS England (Confirmed)
Case Study - Building a Greener NHS: Driving Decarbonisation and Climate Resilience through Smart Hospitals and Digital Innovation
Case Study - Equans
NHS Trusts face growing pressure to decarbonise and adapt to climate change, while working within the constraints of ageing infrastructure, complex PFI agreements, and limited budgets. Decarbonisation is no longer optional, it is vital to building resilient, affordable, and sustainable healthcare estates.
This session will share real-world examples of how Equans is helping Trusts overcome these challenges through its five-stage decarbonisation roadmap. Enhanced by digital innovation and smart hospital solutions, this approach is transforming healthcare estates into connected, adaptive environments - supporting data-driven decisions, compliance, and measurable carbon reduction.
We’ll explore how Equans is reducing environmental impact through decarbonisation and improved air quality, building climate resilience into clients’ estates, and tackling barriers to sustainable infrastructure funding (such as PV and district heating networks). The presentation will demonstrate how smart hospitals are central to building a greener NHS - creating estates that are efficient, future-proof, and patient-focused.
Morning Break & Networking
Morning Break & Networking
Chair Morning Reflection (Confirmed)
Chair Morning Reflection (Confirmed)
Case Study - Medexs
Case Study - Medexs
Jos Lans will be discussing his doctoral research into the correlation of airflows into operating theatres and the infection protection. Jos and his team carried out in-depth testing and review of various operating theatre types across Europe and then compared performance vs CFU vs energy efficiency.
We hope to engage the clinical, estates and sustainability communities in the opportunity to reduce energy consumption whilst maintaining safe patient environments.
Case Study - From Compliance to Value, Net Zero with the NHS
Case Study - Neutral Carbon Zone
Climate change is a health issue, and procurement is the NHS’s most powerful lever to tackle it. In this fast-paced session, Alan Stenson maps the NHS net-zero journey, demystifies what suppliers must have in place now and in the future and shows how innovation in FM, estates and products can deliver better care, lower cost, lower carbon.
Fireside Chat - The Health Impacts of Climate Change (Confirmed)
A discussion exploring how the changing climate is impacting the health of the UK population now, and what public health challenges we are likely to see in the future.
Case Study - Inhaled Fluorinated Gases - A Sustainable Solution for the NHS
Case Study - Beacon Medaes
An overview of the harmful effects of halogenated gases used in operating theatres and how BeaconMedaes can help mitigate their environmental effect.
Lunch & Networking
Lunch & Networking
Chair Afternoon Address (Confirmed)
Chair Afternoon Address (Confirmed)
Keynote Presentation - Delivering a Net zero NHS – Role of New Technologies (Confirmed)
Audit of Smart Theatre and Hospital management system.
Presentation - Sheffield Teaching Hospitals & BetterPoints Sheffield: partnership for behaviour change (Confirmed)
Our joint presentation will give an overview of the partnership forged between Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and BetterPoints through the Council-funded BetterPoints Sheffield programme.
We will discuss successes such as Travel Survey incentives, Urban Cycle Skills webinars, in-app vouchers allowing colleagues to earn and win hot drinks at Trust outlets and wider collaboration with other stakeholders like Modeshift.
We will also share challenges we have faced including communications, data and the difficulties associated with building a partnership in an uncertain funding landscape.
Panel Discussion - Integrating Sustainability into NHS Strategy: Overcoming Challenges and Driving Accountability for a Greener Future
During this panel discussion experts will explore critical strategies and challenges in embedding sustainability into NHS Trust operations and overarching healthcare strategy. Panellists will discuss the complexities involved in integrating sustainable practices within NHS Trusts, including obstacles in operational and strategic planning that can hinder the transition to greener practices. They will also examine the role of leadership in driving environmental accountability, discussing ways to develop leadership responsibility toward environmental goals. Another key focus will be on setting and achieving Net Zero targets across Trusts, with insights into practical steps, metrics, and collaborative efforts needed to meet these ambitious goals while maintaining high-quality patient care. This session aims to provide a comprehensive view of the multi-layered approach required to embed sustainability deeply into the NHS framework.
Panellists:
- Janet Smith, Head of Sustainability, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust & Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (Confirmed)
- Richard Charter, Founder & Managing Director CHLOE Healthcare Advisory Group, Senior Advisor to Vamstar, Vamstar, CHLOE Healthcare Advisory Group (Confirmed)
Food, Drinks & Networking
Food, Drinks & Networking
End of Day
End of Day
