NMH

NMH | 2024 242 Appendices Context and Purpose The National Maternity Hospital aims to be a sustainable organisation. Our ambition is to create a net-zero hospital, and we've already taken steps to address our carbon footprint. The purpose is to provide exceptional healthcare services and to do so in a manner that preserves our planet for future generations. We operate within a dynamic landscape, where global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and waste management demand urgent attention. Sustainability is not an isolated endeavour. It spreads through every facet of our hospital—from patient care to management. We embrace transparency in our operations. Our governance structure ensures accountability, and we actively engage with stakeholders. In January 2023, the Executive Management Committee established the Environmental Committee, comprising of staff from both clinical and non- clinical departments. The Committee meets regularly to coordinate and target environmental initiatives in the hospital. We actively engage with our own staff, suppliers and share learnings across the broader healthcare network. Ireland has committed to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. Our ambition is to align with these national sustainability goals. Two documents of specific relevance for us are The Public Sector Climate Action Plan and the HSE Climate Action Strategy, to which we will reference our work going forward. A tracker document has been introduced, structured according to Environment, Social, Governance principles (ESG), HSE Climate Action Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDG). Sustainability KEY INITIATIVES Strategy: For the first time the Strategic Plan contains an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) section in order to highlight the fundamental importance of sustainability issues for the hospital. Waste survey: In order to improve our waste management we conducted a waste survey in three clinical areas; theatre, delivery ward and a postnatal ward. We learn from the result and use it in communications with staff to highlight the need for a correct waste segregation. Waste management: We have improved our waste management infrastructure by introducing more user-friendly bins in parts of the hospital. The ambition is to continue the change across the entire campus. In the canteen a food waste bin has been re-introduced. We have managed to exchange some of the single use plastic bottles to re-usable plastic bottles in lactation, laboratory and pharmacy. Mary Brosnan, Director of Midwifery & Nursing, Carl Alfvag, Green Committee Chair and Claudiu Zselemi, Porter- ing Services Manager, with the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Smarter Travel Mark awarded to The NMH. TFI Smarter Travel is a behaviour change programme working with large employers to implement voluntary Workplace Travel Plans that promote and encourage sustainable and active commuting.

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