The Future of Healthcare is Green: A Look at the Latest Tech Solutions
Healthcare makes up 4-5% of the UK's carbon emissions, with the NHS in England contributing a whopping 40% of the public sector's emissions. But technology offers hope. It provides new ways to make the NHS more environmentally friendly. In the webinar, we heard from top Green Technology providers for the NHS.
Our Speakers:
Tim Evans, Founder and CEO, 3ti
Alex Drew, Sustainability Director, Servita
Pete Waddingham (AIEMA), NetZero Lead – Health Innovation Network
Smart Grids in Healthcare
Tim introduced 3ti Energy Hubs, showcasing their recent project at Eastbourne Hospital, featuring a megawatt capacity, 600 parking spaces, and 20 EV charging points.
3ti also focuses on smaller EV charging installations, stressing the need for electrification to meet sustainability goals by 2035. They offer smart microgrid solutions to address grid limitations, reduce costs, and facilitate challenging installations.
Tim proposed solutions for hospital parking shortages, advocating for power purchase agreements to fund renewable energy installations. He highlighted the potential savings from solar parking installations but lamented bureaucratic delays that hinder progress.
“Hospitals are saying the don’t have enough packing spaces. We started looking at putting decks onto car parks and then putting the solar on top of that.”
Looking ahead, Tim urged for streamlined decision-making processes to expedite the transition to sustainable energy solutions, leveraging technology to accelerate progress towards sustainability goals.
Sustainability with Servita
Next, we heard from Alex Drew, Head of Sustainability at Servita. In his role at Servita, Alex oversees internal sustainability efforts and guides services to assist clients in achieving more sustainable and efficient operations. He gave us a comprehensive overview of Servita, highlighting key healthcare products and their environmental benefits.
Servita, a global transformation company headquartered in London, focuses on embedding green tech principles into their solutions, emphasising sustainable transformation changes tailored to each client's needs. The company's commitment to sustainability spans various sectors, with a primary focus on the healthcare industry.
Alex delved into examples such as Virtual Wards and Sophi, showcasing how these solutions not only streamline processes but also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing wastage and energy consumption.
Moving on to the patient care aggregator as part of the Wayfinder programme, Alex discussed its role in streamlining appointment management for NHS users and the ongoing study to quantify its environmental benefits more comprehensively.
“The NHS producers 150 million letters annually with an average two A4 sheets of paper for each letter... Reducing letters through Wayfinder, there’s a whole lot more to it. There’s the printing, the distributing, sorting and the envelope.”
Throughout his presentation, Alex shared key lessons learned, emphasising the importance of starting initiatives without waiting for perfection, leveraging technology for sustainable solutions, and fostering collaboration to drive positive change.
Health Innovation Network
Pete Waddingham is the NetZero lead at the Healthcare Innovation Network. In his presentation, Pete began with a brief overview of the Healthcare Innovation Network, emphasising its broad scope of work across various healthcare sectors. Despite intending to focus more on theoretical aspects rather than specific examples of innovation, he acknowledged the diverse range of innovators within the network.
Reflecting on the theme of the presentation, Pete emphasised the expansive nature of technology beyond digital realms, referencing the broader spectrum encompassed by terms like 'MedTech.'
Touching on recent weather events and the imperative of addressing Net Zero, Pete underscored the urgency of tackling climate change. He encouraged active engagement and dialogue on the topic to ensure it remains a priority.
Transitioning to the Healthcare Innovation Network's role, Pete highlighted its establishment in 2013 to facilitate innovation dissemination within the NHS. He invited participants to explore the network's initiatives and encouraged interested companies to register.
Delving into the presentation's focus, Pete discussed the significance of digital solutions in healthcare, citing examples such as patient communication platforms and electronic health records. He emphasised the role of digital innovations in advancing net zero goals while acknowledging their environmental footprint.
Addressing concerns about digital accessibility and health inequalities, Pete argued for the benefits of digitalisation in freeing up healthcare resources. He advocated for embracing digital and net zero initiatives while acknowledging the need for equitable access.
Looking ahead, Pete expressed interest in emerging technologies like AI and emphasised the importance of sustainable practices, particularly in managing electronic waste. He concluded by stressing the need for careful evaluation of carbon impacts and the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving positive change.
Throughout his presentation, Pete emphasised the interconnectedness of healthcare, technology, and sustainability, urging proactive efforts to address challenges and seize opportunities for a greener future.
Thanks for Attending!
The webinar was fantastic, with many interesting topics discussed. Thanks to our speakers and everyone who signed up. We look forward to seeing you at the next event.
Sign up for our next event, 'World Water Day: The NHS Water Agenda' here.
Interested in GreenTechs? Sign up for Halston Group's 'UK GreenTech Catalyst Conference' now!