10 Steps for a Greener Sexual Health and HIV Clinic

Climate change is causing harm to human health and wellbeing and can compromise our ability to deliver quality healthcare. Equally, the way in which we provide healthcare contributes to climate change. Recognising these risks, the NHS was the first national health system to commit to net zero carbon emissions. We must change the way we work to reduce harm to our patients and our planet.

This toolkit is designed to spark change within your HIV/Sexual Health service. We acknowledge each clinic works differently and a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. However, we hope that whatever your role and wherever you work, within this range of examples of good practice your team can find something to apply and perhaps this can stimulate other ideas too.

Meaningful change cannot happen alone. For the best results, we recommend working on adopting or adapting these initiatives as a team, ensuring all voices are heard, including those of our patients. Engaging with your organisation and its sustainability leads and identifying relevant local policies is likely to improve your chances of making change happen in your local area.

The overall goal is to minimise the impact of healthcare on the environment whilst maintaining or improving patient care. Changes designed for improved environmental sustainability often go hand in hand with beneficial financial and social outcomes.

Sustainable healthcare is a developing field and it is anticipated that further resources and exemplars will become available over time. We would encourage you to evaluate and share any initiatives that you implement to enable others to make positive changes towards a greener future.