THE efforts of Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to reduce its environmental impact across its clinical activity have been recognised with a national award.

The Trust won the Clinical category at the virtual Sustainability Partnership Awards on Tuesday, November 23.

The Sustainability Partnership Awards showcase and recognise those organisations and NHS trusts that have strived to implement sustainable change.

Northumbria Healthcare’s submission, by clinical lead for sustainability, Dr Elaine Winkley, highlighted the work that has been taking place across the Trust’s clinical teams over the past two years, in a range of specialties - theatres, critical care, endoscopy, respiratory, maternity, pharmacy, radiology, labs and A&E.

Dr Winkley, who is also chair of the North East’s pioneering Faculty of Sustainable Healthcare, said: “I’m incredibly proud that the Trust has won this award as I’m very passionate about our ongoing efforts to become more sustainable not just in areas such as energy use and transport, but across the clinical side of the organisation as well.

“We have only been successful because this is a team effort – with buy-in from staff at all levels – and there is a firm commitment to continue to work together, as this is the only way that we will make a significant difference in reducing our environmental impact.”