Our Green Network is open to all staff (clinical and non-clinical) who would like to learn and share ideas on how they can reduce their carbon foot-print and live and work more sustainably. 

The Green Network will focus on building knowledge and awareness of the climate crisis and how we can be more environmentally sustainable across the North East and North Cumbria health and care system.

Watch the video below of our launch network session where we were joined by Helena Gregory (Pharmacy & Medicines Lead at NHS North Cumbria ICB). Helena gave a short presentation on climate change, the NHS sustainability strategy and the role of medicines and prescribing:

At our July Green Network, we were joined by Dr Richard Hixson, Consultant in Critical Care and Co-founder of Healthcare Ocean. Richard spoke to us about how humans are damaging our oceans, how changes are occurring at an unprecedented rate and why we need to be worried. Richard also discussed the role human healthcare must play in reducing oceanic harm whilst helping drive environmental protection and improvement. A video of this network event can be seen below:

At our October Green Network, Dr Clare Winter, Senior Net Zero Programme Manager for North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System. Clare shared with us the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) Green Plan. Clare shared with us the journey in creating the plan, as well as the next steps. A video of Clare's presentation can be watched below:

At our February Green Network, we were joined by Kay Dempsey from Groundwork. Kay shared with us who Groundwork is and the work that they are doing in North Cumbria to expand access to green spaces. Kay also gave us an update on the North Cumbria Green Social Prescribing project and shared what Groundwork is doing to support our social prescribers to refer more patients to nature-based, green and blue initiatives and the benefits that this brings. 

At our last network, we were joined by Helena Gregory (North Cumbria Pharmacy and Medicines Lead) and Vicki Casey (Medicines Optimisation Business Support Manager) from the NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB. They spoke to us about Greener Inhaler Use including the impact of inhalers on the environment, resources to support the work and the public-facing behaviour change campaign. We also heard from Dr Jenny Calvert who shared the improvement work happening in Maryport for respiratory.