Local NHS teams have taken further steps to support greener, more sustainable healthcare, bringing together clinical leaders and showcasing practical action across services in the region.
A roundtable event brought together nurses, midwives, and clinical colleagues to discuss our nursing and midwifery professions contributions to driving a net zero and climate resilient health and care system and explore our professional contributions and priority areas for action.
The discussion covered a range of issues, including how our professions can continue to deliver high-quality care whilst addressing environmental sustainability, and noted opportunities connected to the Design for Life programme (suggest including a link).
The session helped build a shared understanding of priorities and identified where nurses, midwives and nursing associates can take action in their day-to-day roles.
Molly Henriques-Dillon, Care Home Quality & Safety Senior Manager for NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), attended the roundtable and represented the local system, contributing to discussions and helping to ensure the voice of care homes and community-based services was reflected in national conversations.
Key themes included the strong link between sustainability and infection prevention and control, with patient safety remaining the top priority. There was also a clear message that every nurse, midwife and nursing associate has a role to play in sustainability, alongside the wider responsibility of organisations and regulators. Climate change was recognised as one of the biggest long-term risks to health and wellbeing.
This work was reinforced by a visit on 24 March 2026, where national and regional colleagues joined local teams to see sustainable care in practice at New Cross Hospital, Oaklands Care Home and The Village Nursing Home.
The visit focused on how greener initiatives are being embedded into everyday care, and the difference they are making for patients, residents, and staff. It also provided an opportunity to share learning and explore how successful approaches can be used more widely.
The visit highlighted the impact of the Greener Sustainable Care project, which has been rolled out across 23 nursing homes in the Black Country. The project supports resident wellbeing, staff experience, community connections and environmental sustainability.
In attendance was Danielle Oum, Chair at NHS Black Country ICB and NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB, she said: “We are proud to see the progress being made across our local services to embed sustainability into everyday care. This work shows how small, practical changes can make a real difference for people, our workforce, and the environment.
“By working together and learning from what is already working well, we can continue to build a more sustainable health and care system for the future.”
Learning from both the roundtable and site visits will now be used to support further action, helping to spread good practice and continue progress towards a greener NHS.
