Health technology firm Philips teamed up with County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT), one of the largest integrated care providers in England, to undertake the programme, which illustrates growing demand for ‘greener’ services in the healthcare sector and showcases the potential for health systems around the world to transform critical care pathways and embed sustainability within their operations.

ICUs are at the centre of diverse clinical practices and, in the UK, represent a significant portion of the carbon footprint. They’re also one of the most expensive types of care.

A team of nine clinical and environmental specialists from Philips worked with the Trust over six months to identify efficiency improvements, with the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of a critical care department. The team analysed data, interviewed clinical staff, including physicians and nurses, and undertook shadowing and observation sessions. These focused on clinical workflow; supply chain and procurement; medical technology; and staff and patient experience. 

The results form a blueprint to drive further change and improvement across the Trust, in line with the NHS’s overall target of becoming the world’s first net-zero national health service by 2040.

Key areas highlighted by the team for enhancing sustainable care were:

• optimising ICU capacity for earlier patient discharge, freeing up resources, improving health outcomes, and reducing the carbon footprint;
• reducing supply chain waste, including high CO₂ impact single-use items, and promoting cost savings and eco-friendly alternatives;
• cultivating a sustainable staff culture through training, identifying ambassadors, idea sharing, success measurement, and staff recognition;
• efficient management of medical technology to conserve power, reduce waste, and minimise disruptive noise from patient alarms; and
• strategically refurbishing existing buildings to cut costs and CO₂ emissions by extending their lifespan.

Following the analysis, the Trust has implemented several recommended initiatives.

Dr Richard Hixson, consultant in anaesthesia and critical care medicine at CDDFT, said: “Philips took time to undertake quantitative analysis, which validated our suspicions and provided outputs we could present back to the wider Trust. 

“The quality of care we provide on the unit has gone up because of the work, as well as through the direct way we serve certain groups of patients. For example, by looking at patient flow and de-medicalisation of patients, we’re helping to ease demand on critical care by adjusting medication, removing monitoring that is no longer required and moving patients onto new pathways, in a positive way.”

Mark Leftwich, managing director at Philips UK&I, commented: “Healthcare providers have a responsibility to safeguard both our wellbeing and our environment, with climate change and human health working hand in hand.

“This first-of-a-kind partnership between Philips and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is an important milestone in the race to reach net zero and provide more sustainable care. As the first 360 sustainability assessment for the NHS, this collaboration shows the potential of finding solutions that care for patients, our health workforce, and the planet all at once, helping to create more resilient health systems for the future.”

This programme with CDDFT follows similar analyses conducted by Philips at Tampere Heart Hospital, in Tampere, Finland; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, USA; and Champalimaud Foundation, in Lisbon, Portugal.