NHS Scotland is expanding its national programme to cut carbon emissions and waste across more healthcare services.
The Green Healthcare Scotland programme, led by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) and hosted by NHS Golden Jubilee, will now be rolled out across renal and endoscopy services.
These services are considered two of the most resource-intensive areas of care.
Launched on Tuesday, March 10, the programme builds on the progress of the National Green Theatres Programme, which focused on cutting waste and energy use in hospitals without affecting the quality of patient care.
NHS Scotland became the first health system in the world to systematically reduce high global-warming-potential anaesthetic gases, such as desflurane and nitrous oxide, from its supply chain in 2023, receving both European and international recognition.
The changes have already shown potential to save more than 12,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, as well as offering significant financial benefits to NHS Scotland.
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Green Healthcare Scotland will use its clinically-led model across the wider healthcare system, with the initial focus on renal and endoscopy care.
Both have been identified as high‑impact areas for environmental improvement.
The National Green Renal Programme aims to lower the environmental impact of renal care, especially haemodialysis, which is linked to disproportionately high greenhouse gas emissions.
Similarly, the Green Endoscopy Programme will target carbon hotspots by reducing single-use plastics and improving how clinical waste and energy are managed during endoscopic procedures.
CfSD is also launching the Lean Surgical Trays initiative, a project funded by the Scottish Government to audit and reduce unnecessary surgical instruments.
The aim is to cut over‑processing, waste and demand on decontamination services, while maintaining patient care standards.
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David Taggart, head of Climate Change Delivery for CfSD, said: “Green Healthcare Scotland is about making sustainability part of everyday clinical decision making.
“By treating environmental impact as a core element of quality and value‑based care, we are supporting teams to deliver excellent patient outcomes while reducing waste, cutting carbon and making better use of public resources.
“By cutting unnecessary waste and energy use, we can support staff, improve efficiency and help NHS Scotland meet its climate commitments.”
John Harden, the Scottish Government’s National Clinical Lead for Quality and Safety, said: “By expanding this work beyond theatres, we’re making sustainability part of everyday healthcare across Scotland. What the Green Theatres Programme showed us is that sustainability and patient safety go hand in hand.
“By reducing unnecessary waste and energy use, we can improve efficiency, support staff and deliver better value without compromising care.”
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