Chief AHP's blog
Date of release: 30 April 2024
Spotlight on Greener AHP Week
By Dr Ros Leslie
In this month’s blog I am shining the spotlight on the invaluable contributions of our AHPs in shaping a greener NHS.
Working in healthcare, we have a responsibility to deliver high-quality care, but unfortunately, that care often contributes to climate change by adding to greenhouse gas emissions.
Greener AHP Week (Monday 22 April to Friday 26 April), was an opportunity for AHPs to share progress on their journey towards more sustainable healthcare, raise awareness of the links between health and climate change and inspire others to get involved.
We have some great examples of green initiatives at RWT, and Asad Atiq, one of our AHPs, recently won the Green Award at our internal staff Royal Awards. He proposed several schemes to help lower the carbon footprint in the Orthoptics Department.
Asad, Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Vision Screening Lead, introduced telephone consultations, resulting in a reduction of 0.2 tonnes of carbon emissions as well as having a positive impact on patient experience and waiting lists.
Asad described the award as an incredible honour and recognition of the hard work and dedication the whole team has put into promoting sustainable practices.
He added:“It motivates us to continue our sustainability efforts and inspire others to join us in creating a more sustainable future.
“This award shows our initiatives have made a meaningful impact. Winning this award fills me with pride, especially as it highlights the work of the Orthoptic profession, which is a smaller workforce in AHPs.”
Green Award winner Asad Atiq with Professor David Loughton CBE, Group Chief Executive
Shelagh Baynham, Head Orthoptist and Head of Optometry, believes Asad’s initiatives have made a difference to the quality of care for children with SEN and Disability, as well as reducing the carbon footprint.
“The fact our Trust holds these awards events is one of many positive things about working for RWT – the contribution of staff is clearly valued, and it is fantastic Asad has had this recognition,” said Shelagh.
The department’s sustainaility journey has also received national recognition, with Asad and Jenna Wall, Highly Specialist Orthoptist, invited by the Greener NHS Team at NHS England to present an overview of their green initiatives in a webinar during Greener AHP Week.
As head of service, Shelagh believes this is testament to the teamwork in the service, with solutions being generated and implemented by the entire team.
Jenna added: “We are very proud of how much we have achieved as a small department.
“It was a privilege to advise the wider AHP community that even the small changes can make a big difference to the environment.
It is clear everyday AHP interventions and small changes to the way we work are part of the solution to climate change.
