AXREM Sustainability Special Focus Group Expands Membership and Work
06 March 2023
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Climate change threatens the foundations of good health, with direct immediate consequences for patients, public and NHS. This is getting worse, with 9/10 hottest years on record occurring in the last decade and almost 900 people killed by heatwaves in England 2019. Without accelerated action there will be increases in intensity of heatwaves, more frequent storms, flooding, and increased spread of infectious diseases.
Over the last 10 years, NHS has taken notable steps to reduce impact on climate change. As the biggest employer in this country, the NHS knows there is more they can do. Action must not only cut NHS emissions, currently 4% of England’s total carbon footprint, but build adaptive capacity and resilience into care being provided. This action will lead to direct benefit for patients, research suggests up to one-third of new asthma cases could avoided, as a result of cutting emissions. This is because the drivers of climate change, are the drivers of ill health and health inequalities.
In January 2020 Sir Simon Stephens, then CEO of NHS launched the campaign For a Greener NHS an expert panel set out practical, evidence-based and quantified path to a ‘net zero’ NHS. Sir Simon said:
“The climate emergency is also a health emergency. Unabated it will disrupt care and affect patients and the public at every stage of our lives. With poor environmental health contributing to major diseases, including cardiac problems, asthma and cancer, our efforts must be accelerated. We therefore make no apologies for pushing for progress in this area while continuing to confront coronavirus”
AXREM members have recognised this emergency and have been supportive of the NHS and its vital mission.
In November 2021 AXREM held a Sustainability Conference, which saw over 40 members from 16 member companies participate. Welcoming guest speakers from NHS Supply Chain & NHS England. The feedback from this event was so positive, in December AXREM held an Executive Committee strategy afternoon to discuss the associations key priorities and members decided that sustainability was one of the top priorities for our Industry.
Subsequently AXREM have worked with members to establish a Sustainability Special Focus Group (SFG). This is a group open to all AXREM members, giving them a forum to engage with NHS England and NHS Supply Chain, to discuss and support the latest challengers in relation to the NHS net zero target.
Over 60% of the total NHS Carbon Footprint sits within NHS supply chain, reducing supply chain emissions will be crucial to reaching net zero by 2045. This target includes emissions from freight, manufacturing of goods, catering, business services and construction.
Normally SFG’s are made up purely of members, with guest speakers invited as required. This is the first group to contain members from the NHS England team, NHS Supply Chain, The Department of Health & Social Care, The Royal College of Radiologists and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine. Everyone sees the need to team up to win on this vital action, having such a dramatic impact on our industry, as well as the planet.
There are no Individual winners looking at how social value and climate change can impact our Industry. It is a priority and one that the SFG recognises and supports the need to unite, collaborate on and ultimately find tangible solutions to this health emergency.
The AXREM SFG has started our industry on a new path, one granted with a lot of questions and challengers, but a commitment from all, to work together finding a solution and workflows that will accelerate the transition of our industry and support Net zero and social value goals of NHS and Private sector.
It has united the passion and drive of our members, driving real change in the industry. Growing the SFG with the support of key members from the NHS, who are invited to speak and join in the way Industry is being shaped. Moving away from historical, capital models of purchasing, to a more circular economy methodology where equipment is kept for longer and repurposed ensuring the most efficient use of resources.
“AXREM have been very engaged and supportive of the NHS’s ambition to achieve net zero. In 2020, the NHS set a world-leading commitment to be net zero by 2040 for our direct emissions and by 2045 for those emissions we can influence, including our supply chain. Collaboration is key to success, and we appreciate AXREM’s efforts to bring their members together to address sustainability challenges in their industry.” Alexandra Hammond, Head of Sustainable Procurement and Supply Chain, NHS England.
AXREM’s commitment to sustainability has seen the publication of the associations sustainability policy https://www.axrem.org.uk/axrem-publishes-sustainability-policy/ The association is planning on hosting a bigger and more engaging sustainability conference later this year, with some fantastic guest speakers, more details will be released in due course.
Sally Edgington, AXREM Director said “It is AXREM’s role to ensure our members are kept up to date of all the latest developments in relation to sustainability and social value. Industry has a vital role to play assisting the NHS with their net zero ambitions, and I want to ensure AXREM can reach as many people as possible, so that the whole MedTech community gets on board”.
Chris Taylor, AXREM Sustainability SFG Convenor (Philips Healthcare) said “As an industry, AXREM members are well aware of our responsibilities and the close links that exist between health and climate care.
The sustainability focus group provides a forum for the NHS and wider healthcare industry, to work closely together and support outcomes that not only benefit the NHS and its patients but the planet as well. A forum that strives to help develop a sustainable healthcare industry of the future, promoting a truly supportive and collaborative culture, where no one wins, unless we all win”.
AXREM were also recognised for all the work the association has done at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards, by being shortlisted for the ESG Initiative of the Year Award.
AXREM will be hosting a Sustainability & Social Value Conference 2023 on Wednesday 12th July at The Royal College of Radiologists, more details will be released here in due course: https://www.axrem.org.uk/event/axrem-sustainability-social-value-conference-2023/