Stonehouse Strives to be a Green Ward
The UHP Sustainability team recently visited Stonehouse Ward for an event to promote their Green Wards Initiative. Stonehouse are the first ward to sign up to the initiative, which aims to encourage wards across UHP to incorporate sustainable actions into their everyday practice. There are a range of actions that wards need to meet in order to achieve ‘Green Ward Status’, with successful wards being awarded with a plaque to display on or outside of their ward to promote their green credentials. Examples of some of these actions are listed below:
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Sign up to Warp It to swap furniture and other equipment in the Trust to save buying new.
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Monitor glove usage, with a targeted reduction of 10% of the baseline.
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Bins are clearly labelled and placed in appropriate locations around the department.
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All new starters are given information as to how they can save energy/be sustainable on a ward
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Appliances/computers turned off when not in use
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Printing has been discontinued for all but essential documents/where there is a specific reason to print.
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Ensure that staff are knowledgeable on what can and can't be flushed down the drains by displaying the Trust's unflushable poster in key areas
The Stonehouse ward event was well received by staff . The ward’s green champion, Carrie, was instrumental in making the event a success by promoting it to and encouraging her colleagues to participate and find out more. During the event our Sustainability team was able to install a green noticeboard outside of the ward, as well as carrying out a waste audit, putting up posters, and simply speaking with colleagues to get their views. We also took the tea trolly along and introduced everyone to our sustainability seal of approval - Sven, who is always a crowd pleaser.
The hope is that the Green Wards Initiative can now be rolled out across other UHP wards . If you’d like to be involved, or you are interested in becoming a green champion for your ward please get in touch with the Sustainability team.
