Newcastle Hospitals Charity Arts Programme Manager Katie Hickman worked with the Greener NHS team, NHS England to organise the exhibition at Newcastle’s RVI Hospital, where it will now be on display on Level 3 of the New Victoria Wing until 21st January 2021. The exhibition was originally displayed at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021:
NHS England has unveiled a new photography exhibition, “Care for the future: delivering the world’s first net zero health service,” at COP26 – the United Nations Conference of the Parties.
The photography exhibition, captured by portrait photographer, Justin Lambert, features NHS staff – from pharmacists to surgeons, mental health professionals to health visitors – who have pioneered greener healthcare initiatives for the benefit of their patients and the communities they serve.
Midwife Bethany from Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, features in this exhibition, as part of the Newcastle Birthing Centre team that supported the UK’s first mother to give birth using climate-friendly pain relief during labour. Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is well known for its award-winning sustainability programme and has committed to the ambitious goal of becoming a net-zero carbon organisation by 2030.
Above: Exhibition entry from Newcastle Hospitals, Midwife Bethany showcasing greener gas and air during labour
Improving sustainability is a key focus for Newcastle Hospitals, and one of the main aims of Newcastle Hospitals Charity.
In October 2020, the NHS became the world’s first health system to commit to reaching carbon net zero, in response to the profound and growing threat to health posed by climate change.
Air pollution is the single greatest environmental threat to health in the UK, accounting for 1 in 20 deaths. Reducing harmful carbon emissions will reduce the number of cases of cancer, heart disease and asthma. Tackling climate change will also prevent the growing health impacts of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, and the disruption of care they bring. Last year, UK heatwaves claimed more than 2,500 lives.
As one of the world’s largest employers, contributing almost 5% of UK carbon emissions, the NHS can play a vital role in supporting the UK Government’s climate change targets.
The exhibition was on display in the Blue Zone of the COP26 venue in Glasgow, for the duration of the conference [31st October – 12th November], before moving to Newcastle NHS Hospital Trust. It will then be displayed at other NHS Trusts across the country over the course of 2022.
The NHS was invited by the hosts of COP26 to display this exhibition.
The full exhibition and stories can be accessed digitally on the Greener NHS website from Monday 1st November. Search “Greener NHS”.
To find out more about this exhibition, please contact: [email protected].
