Authors: Sam Pywell (Social Prescribing Unit coordinator, University of Central Lancashire) and Rachel Booth-Gardiner (Lead Occupational therapist TEWV NHS Foundation trust).
The first #GreenerAHPs week took place over the last week, during tonights #OTalk we want to reflect on the event and demonstrate what Occupational therapy is doing to ensure we meet the target of Net zero by 2040 for the emissions The National Health Service (NHS) controls directly; and Net zero by 2045 for the emissions the NHS has the ability to influence.
The fundamental argument is this: #GreenerAHPs role is the role and professional responsibility of every allied health profession (given the climate crisis, and pressures on services). So where do we take this from here?
Each day during #GreenerAHPs week had a theme, one that might be most suitable to focus on during tonight’s #OTalk is “Public health and prevention”.
Day 3 which highlighted the brilliant work AHPs do on public health and prevention and its links to climate change. They stated “AHPs are an integral part of the public health workforce. There is a carbon footprint attached to all healthcare activity across all settings, however proactive rather than reactive care generally has a lower impact. This means there is a strong link between our ambitions as #GreenerAHPs to improve public health and reduce our carbon impact, as less carbon intensive healthcare is based on reducing the need to access healthcare services”.
Sam reflects on her approach to being a #GreenerAHP. “We can be more active in being #GreenerOT #GreenerAHP as well as supporting sustainable, healthier, greener communities for all. The United Nations (UN) (2015) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) urges us all to focus on goals to tackle climate change, poverty, address health inequities and improve community wellbeing.
For example, SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing), SDG 13 (climate action) and additional SDGs can be seen as interconnected. We know access to green spaces (and meaningful activities within them) are critical for better mental health and wellbeing, yet can be inaccessible due to lack of transport and the financial means to explore what makes an individual well in these environments (Gov UK, 2022; NHSE, 2022a; Husk et al., 2021).
This agenda is reflected in the NHS England (2022b p39) Delivering a ‘net zero’ NHS where addressing health inequalities and facilitating upstream prevention is used as an intervention to primarily meet an individuals needs but also reduce hospital admissions and therefore carbon footprint.
AHPs can demonstrate part of this role by engaging in the preventative care and social prescribing agendas as #GreenerAHP is closely connected to social justice in the NHS England AHPstrategy (2022c). In 2019, the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) stated AHPs (and therefore occupational therapists) have several roles connected to the prevention and social prescribing agenda. Connected, thriving communities which tackle health inequalities and environmental issues are some of the healthiest communities in the world.
Green Social Prescribing (NHS, 2023) is another intervention which springs to mind. Whether an OT signposts the individual to e.g. a community group delivering wellbeing walks in nature, delivers sessions in nature (including adventurous activities) or designs/ grows social prescribing (e.g. a new green social prescribing service with nature based interventions and education) there will be an influence on both the individual being referred and the AHP/ occupational therapist in understanding the value and importance of caring for nature and the environment as it that relationship which forms a large part of the healing and support for individuals.“
Rachel reflects on being a #GreenerAHP
“The NHS says ……..One of the biggest threats to our health, and our planet, is climate change. Contributing around 4% of UK emissions, the NHS and other UK health and care organisations must be part of the solution. Tackling climate change will ensure we can deliver high quality care for all, now and for future generations.
There are many things we can do to help our profession be greener, as both an occupational therapist myself and someone who accesses occupational therapy serviers. I have thoughts about ensuring our interventions are right the first time around which will help reduce waste, sometimes this might mean spending more, but in the long term reduces poor experiences and waste for example equipment provision that need replacing regularly, is one way we can help meet this target, but what are your thoughts? Join in #GreenerAHP during this week find out more here, and then join us on tuesday 25th to reflect
Tonight’s questions by Rachel and Sam are therefore all about #GreenerAHP and the #GreenerOT
Questions
Q1. Have your heard of #GreenerAHP week? If so, did you engage, tell us how?
Q2. Where is #GreenerOT or #GreenerAHP in our evidence base, pre reg standards and professional code?
Q3. Thinking about the UN (2015) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and bringing all things green, sustainable and environmentally friendly into your practice, what examples can you give of being a #GreenerAHP
Q4. Have you worked with clients to achieve their goals utilising green social prescribing? If so, how?
Q5. How could being the #GreenAHP improves outcomes and helps individuals meet their goals.
Q6. Why does future Occupational Therapy practice need to be greener?
#OTalk #SocialPrescribing #PublicHealth #Prevention #OT #OccupationalTherapy #AHP #MakingEveryContactCount #GreenerAHP
References
Gov UK (2022) Health disparities and health inequalities: applying “All our health”
Husk, K. et al., (2021). Nature on Prescription handbook. https://www.ecehh.org/research/nature-prescription-handbook/
NHSE (2022a) Green Social Prescribing. https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/green-social-prescribing/
NHSE (2022b) Delivering a Net Zero NHS https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/publication/delivering-a-net-zero-national-health-service/
NHSE (2022c). The Allied Health Professions (AHPs) Strategy for England: 2022 – 2027 AHPs Deliver. https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/the-allied-health-professions-ahps-strategy-for-england-ahps-deliver/
RSPH (2019). Driving forward Social Prescribing: A framework for Allied Health Professionals. https://www.rsph.org.uk/static/uploaded/c4dceeb6-4ced-4bfa-9ec8a9780172fd4d.pdf
UN (2015). Sustainable Development Goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Further CPD
26th April, 1.00-2.30pm, NHSE webinar on “The role of Allied Health Professions in enabling social prescribing”. Book here: https://www.events.england.nhs.uk/events/the-role-of-allied-health-professionals-ahps-in-enabling-social-prescribing
NHSE (2023) Greener AHP. https://www.england.nhs.uk/ahp/greener-ahp-hub/upcoming-events/
OTalk 