The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, (UHDB), was a shortlisted finalist in the Public Engagement category of the 2020 Sustainability Day Awards, sponsored by HEFMA.
The Trust developed a climate action engagement programme with the aim of informing its community about climate change, the risk it poses to health and action that people can take to reduce carbon emissions. Information was shared with the community through events in its hospitals and through its newly developed sustainability social media platforms. Social media messaging was aligned with local and national awareness events, such as World Ozone Day and Global Goals Week, wider campaigns such as the UN SDG Food / Fashion Challenges, as well as ad-hoc topical events. For example, during hot weather in summer messaging focused on how the climate crisis contributes to heatwaves now and in the future, how to stay cool and reminding people to carry a reusable bottle with them. Another example of topical messaging focused on the Brazilian Amazon Fires.
The public engagement programme started with a Climate Coalition 'Show the Love' event during which staff, patients and the local community were asked to create green hearts if they had a passion for climate / environmental action. Overall, more than 200 individual hearts were produced including by patients in the Children's ward, A&E and those living with dementia. These were displayed in the main entrance of one of the Trust's hospitals, sparking engagement between the sustainability team and the public. Some of the hearts were also left up in the main entrance for a number of months to continue the display.
A display board entitled 'Our Planet Matters - Our Patients Matter' was installed in the main corridor of one hospital featuring different themes throughout the year. Each theme included actions that people can take themselves to act on the climate crisis. Themes and associated actions included waste, air pollution, food and plastic.
Part of the campaign targeted air pollution, its causes, effects and solutions. As part of the campaign patients in the Children's ward were asked to design posters to encourage the public to stop idling their engines and two of these posters were turned into signs for the drop-off area of the site.
Another targeted part of the campaign was the Sustainable Development Goals; and how the public can take action for the goals. Some examples where the public can help include:
• SDG12.2 - by refusing single-use, buying only what is needed and choosing the most sustainable product
• SDG12.3 - by creating a shopping list, planning meals ahead and reusing leftovers
• SDG12.4 - by limiting use of harmful chemicals around the home
• SDG15.2 - by choosing 100% recycled or certified sustainable wood products
• SDG15.5 - by reducing pesticide use and not planning invasive species.
As part of the programme, the Trust also sought and share information about nature and environment clubs / events in the local area, including the RSPB, Staffordshire Wildlife, Beautiful Burton Litter Picking, Low Carbon Lichfield and other clubs.
Communicating the wider health implications of the climate crisis and actions that people can take to reduce their impact will help with carbon reduction in the community and also presents opportunities for health benefits.
All Trust sites are in the vicinity of Air Quality Management Areas, and the health implications of air pollution are well documented. Communicating air pollution information via social media messaging, and the design and installation of no-idling signs will act as a prompt for the public to switch off their engines. In line with this campaign, the Trust contacted a non-emergency transport provider for one of its sites, who had been identified as regularly having vehicles idling at the main entrance, to make them aware of the campaign and to request that their drivers are educated against this practice. Reducing idling will also have carbon reduction benefits.
Due to the success of the awareness campaign, the Trust plans to continue with a similar campaign next year alongside its two-year sustainability engagement plan. The Trust already delivers Junior Environmental Champions training at local schools and will continue to develop relationships with partners, the community and schools to engage them on climate action. The sustainability team have been invited to a local school to deliver assemblies on the climate crisis, and have been asked to visit to link in with curriculum topics that relate to climate change and environmental protection - the Trust will seek to roll this out to other schools too.
Watch this space for details of other shortlisted entries in these awards.
