About sustainable healthcare in Hunter New England LHD

Learn about how we're building a high-quality, low-carbon, and climate-resilient health system in Hunter New England LHD.

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Sustainable Healthcare: Together Towards Zero

Hunter New England Health will be carbon and waste neutral by 2030.

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Video transcript

Sustainable Healthcare: Together Towards Zero

Every day, all day, we work passionately to give people the best opportunity to live their healthiest life.

We understand that a true commitment to good health goes hand in hand with a commitment to the future of our earth.

Starting today, Hunter New England Health is making a transition towards a cleaner, greener future while continuing our unwavering promise to put patient care first.

We will be carbon and waste neutral by 2030.

A lot can happen in 10 years.

Where were you a decade ago?

Where will you be another 10 years from now?

In the blink of an eye, this time can be gone before you know it.

Our babies become boys, daughters become mothers, seeds grow into trees. As we welcome new beginnings.

At Hunter New England Health we're ready to embrace change.

Passion for wellness has become the catalyst for innovation.

Medical advancements allow us to treat more patients and save more lives, but no longer does it have to be at the expense of our environment.

Our desire for excellence, innovation, passion, and commitment will be channelled towards a future where health and environment exist in natural harmony, as they should.

From now, our new hospitals will be sustainably designed and built.

We're installing solar panels on every health building.

We’re trading fossil fuels for renewables and working to achieve zero general waste to landfill by 2030.

We're being water-wise by collecting, reusing, and recycling all water whenever possible.

Our investment in technology has enhanced connectivity, and our fleet of vehicles will be cleaner moving forward, utilizing hybrid electric models to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2030.

We believe healthcare and our beautiful landscape can coexist.

We need to treat the land with respect and truly care for our country, following the lead of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have carved the way.

Our legacy will be a future of health for our people and our environment, for our generation and generations to come.

The next 10 years will be the most memorable and impactful yet.

It starts now, working together towards zero by 2030.

Our why

The World Health Organisation and The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change describe climate change as the single biggest threat to human health and the greatest public health emergency of the 21st century.

Hunter New England Health is already feeling the impact of climate change with more frequent and more severe weather events impacting health service delivery and the health of our community. At the same time, we know that our healthcare system is resource intensive with a significant carbon footprint.

Recognising the interconnectedness between human health and the health of our planet is key for Healthy People, Now and Into the Future. 

 

Our goals

  • Acknowledge the connection between human health and the environment 

  • Eliminate our contribution to the burden of disease by reducing our environmental footprint while being fiscally responsible 

  • Adopt Aboriginal stewardship values for our environment by Caring for Country 

  • Engage and empower our staff and the local community to participate in this journey of Sustainable Healthcare transformation. 

  • Contribute to leading a movement of sustainability  

Our key focus areas

Six key focus areas underpin Hunter New England Health's Sustainable Healthcare: Together Towards Zero strategy: 

Energy

We are working to eliminate usage of harmful gases by electrifying our facilities, transitioning to renewable energy sources and improving the energy efficiency of our operations.  

Strategies

The following strategies will be implemented across all Hunter New England LHD health facilities:

  1. Ensuring electrification of all new HNELHD facilities 

  2. Solar panel installations on all HNELHD owned facilities 

  3. LED and sensory lighting upgrades at all HNELHD owned facilities 

  4. Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) upgrades at all HNELHD owned facilities

  5. Promoting energy efficiency through staff behaviour change campaigns 

  6. Upgrading electrical equipment to meet the highest energy efficiency standards

  7. Exploring ground mounted solar installation opportunities 

  8. Exploring energy storage opportunities

  9. Exploring renewable energy opportunities 

  10. Exploring opportunities to retrofit existing facilities to be all electric  

Progress

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's solar performance

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's solar performance

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's solar performance 2022

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's solar performance 2022

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's solar performance 2023

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's solar performance 2023
Solar dashboard

Visit our live solar dashboard to view our solar energy production. 

Waste

We are driving a circular economy where our resources are utilised efficiently to avoid and reduce waste upstream.  

Strategies

The following strategies will be implemented across all Hunter New England LHD health facilities:

  1. Establish best practice waste management systems at all HNELHD facilities

    Partner with hospitality and retail vendors to implement best practice waste management initiatives

  2. Work with HealthShare NSW to update and align waste policies and procedures so that best practice waste management can be operationalised across all HNELHD facilities  

Progress

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's waste

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's waste

Water

We are focusing on responsible resource management to ensure water security.  

Strategies

The following strategies will be implemented across all Hunter New England LHD health facilities:

  1. Water tank installations at all HNELHD owned facilities 

  2. Capture and reuse of waste water from renal dialysis units using reverse osmosis

  3. Low flow fixture upgrades at all HNELHD owned facilities 

  4. Implementation of stringent leak detection and repair processes 

Progress

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's renal water recycling

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's renal water recycling
Dashboard of the HNELHD's water tanks

Transport

We are aiming to reduce unnecessary staff and patient travel by using technological advancements. For travel that cannot be avoided, our focus is on active travel and electrification of our fleet.  

Strategies

The following strategies will be implemented across Hunter New England LHD:

  1. Develop innovative virtual models of care to reduce staff and patient travel

  2. Defleet and convert remaining fleet vehicles to hybrid or electric models 

  3. Installation of e-Charging infrastructure at all HNELHD owned facilities 

  4. Develop a ride to work strategy that supports active travel for staff 

  5. Explore opportunities to pilot e-mobility options for fleet travel 

  6. Incentivise staff uptake of e-Bikes and electric vehicles for personal use via salary packaging 

Progress

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's fleet breakdown

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's fleet breakdown

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's fleet breakdown year on year

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Dashboard of the HNELHD's fleet breakdown year on year

Procurement

We are striving to procure good and services based on economic, social and environmental considerations.  

Strategies

The following strategies will be implemented across Hunter New England LHD:

  1. Partner with State and District Procurement Teams to develop and implement sustainable procurement criteria in all tenders.

  2. Work directly with suppliers to advance upstream circularity principles and encourage transparency in product and packaging material specifications 

  3. Collaborate with key stakeholders to implement mandates that address problematic products while sourcing suitable alternative

Infrastructure

We are minimising the negative environmental impact of all new infrastructure projects through sustainable building design and sustainable building best practice.  

Strategies
  • All new infrastructure projects will achieve a minimum 5-star green rating 

Current infrastructure projects:

  1. Residential Eating Disorder Clinic 

  2. John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct | NSW Government

  3. Banksia Unit Tamworth 

  4. Gunnedah Hospital 

  5. Muswellbrook Hospital 

  6. Manning Hospital

  7. Glenn Innes Hospital

  8. Moree Hospital 

  9. Cessnock Hospital 

  10. Maitland Mental Health Unit 

Our awards and achievements

Hunter New England Local Health District Excellence Awards

The Hunter New England Excellence Awards celebrate the best of clinical excellence, quality, innovation, improvement, and outstanding achievements of staff members across our district.  

2024

  • John Hunter Hospital and Rankin Park Centre Allied Health: Outfits to Fitouts

2023

  • John Hunter Hospital NICU: Greening the NICU 

2022

  • John Hunter Hospital Operating Theatres: Plastic Recycling 

  • Hunter Brain Injury Service: Local Circular Solutions for Food Waste 

2021

  • HNELHD Bio-medical Engineering: Onselling used medical equipment  

Other awards

2024

  • International Health Care Climate Challenge: Climate Champion and Climate Action Winner for the Pacific Region

  • NSW Premier Awards: Finalist

  • Hunter Manufacturing Awards: Sustainability Collaboration Finalist  

2023

  • NSW Health Award: Environmental Sustainability Winner 

  • Hunter Manufacturing Awards: Sustainability Collaboration Winner  

2022

  • International Health Care Climate Challenge: Climate Leadership Silver Award 

  • NSW Government Sustainability Advantage Program: Bronze Award 

  • NSW Government Sustainability Advantage Program: Champion of Champions Award

  • Hunter Business Awards: Finalist  

2021

  • NSW Banksia Award: Net Zero Winner 

  • Hunter Business Awards: Finalist  

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