GLOUCESTERSHIRE Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has launched its new Green Plan for 2026-2030.

The plan sets out how it will reduce carbon emissions and support sustainable healthcare in the county over the next four years.

The Trust said its approach focuses on reducing carbon emissions, improving population health, strengthening resilience, and supporting better outcomes for patients, staff and local communities.

Will Cleary-Gray, Director of Improvement and Delivery at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "This summer's periods of very high temperatures have provided a clear reminder of why this work matters. We are increasingly seeing the impact of more frequent extreme weather events linked to climate change, both on the communities we serve and on healthcare services.

"As an NHS trust, we see first-hand how environmental factors can affect people's health and wellbeing, and we have a responsibility to play our part in reducing our impact. Sustainability is a golden thread running throughout our Trust Strategy, reflecting our commitment to considering the environmental impact of everything we do, from the care we provide and the medicines we use, to how we design our buildings, travel and work with suppliers.

"We have already made significant progress in reducing our environmental impact, but there is more we know we need to do. Our new Green Plan sets out practical actions that will help us build a more sustainable future for our hospitals and communities."

The Trust said the plan’s key initiatives include building sustainability knowledge amongst its staff, embedding sustainability into everyday care, harnessing digital technology to reduce waste and emissions, reducing its energy consumption, and increasing on site renewable generation.

It also said the launch of the plan builds on from progress it has already achieved. Since 2019, the Trust has reduced its overall carbon footprint by 5,546 tonnes of CO2 - around 3,000 average petrol cars driven for a year.

You can read the Green Plan via the Trust’s website.