New cycling facilities

WE’RE GOING GREENER

This year, the Trust has launched its new ‘We’re Going Greener’ initiative. It is our pledge to make more sustainable choices across our hospitals for both patients and staff and support the NHS target in its drive to reach net zero emissions.

Our Going Greener initiative sets out how we will achieve the targets set by NHS England: • For the emissions we control directly (the

NHS Carbon Footprint), we will reach net zero by 2040, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2028 to 2032; • For the emissions we can influence (our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus), we will reach net zero by 2045, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2036 to 2039. Cara Williams, Executive Sustainability Ambassador at the Countess, said: “This is a really exciting moment for us as a Trust and our sustainability journey. I’ve been really impressed with the passion and enthusiasm colleagues have shown for our plans to become a greener organisation. We have a long journey ahead to make the differences we want but I can already see how we’re beginning to make an impact.”

New café takes shape

New Greener Café taking shape

In early 2023 we will be opening our new ‘We’re Going Greener’ Café. The ‘We’re Going Greener’ Café has been created using fully recycled, reused and sustainable materials and equipment that have been locally sourced.

Jill Young, Assistant Facilities Manager, who has led this work said: “We’re really pleased at how environmentally friendly we have been able to make this Café. All of the packaging is fully compostable and it’s designed to be recycled and to produce high quality compost. The packaging on goods sold at the Café will be made from plants, using renewable, low carbon, recycled or reclaimed materials.”

Russ Morrow, Head of Facilities, said of the new ‘We’re Going Greener’ Café, “We’re delighted to have achieved a fully sustainable Café. The ‘We’re Going Greener Café will provide staff, patients and visitors with an exciting alternative for refreshment when visiting our hospital. We are working towards Net Zero and the ‘We’re Going Greener’ Café is a great stride in our quest.

Olympic and World Champion opens new cycling facilities

In early Autumn, we welcomed Olympic gold medal cyclist Chris Boardman MBE, to open a new cycle storage unit for Countess of Chester Hospital staff as the Trust also launched a sustainable travel strategy.

The secured storage unit has 40 spaces for bikes and was made possible by a grant to the Countess Charity from NHS Charities Together, using donations made during the pandemic to improve the health and wellbeing of NHS staff. New changing facilities have also been opened adjacent to the cycle storage for staff to use before and after travelling to work. Cara said: “We were delighted to welcome Chris to formally open our new facilities and to launch our Active Travel Strategy which we hope will encourage more of our staff to cycle, run or walk into work. “I know Chris is an advocate of both the environmental and health benefits of active travel and that is something we are also extremely passionate about for our staff and our patients.”

Chris Boardman pictured centre with the Greener team (L-R): Jill Young, Russ Morrow, Cara Williams and Veda Carter

IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF OUR SERVICES: SIX STEPS TO SAFETY

Patient safety is the cornerstone of quality care which concerns everyone in the NHS. Earlier this year, the Trust launched a new initiative called Six Steps to Patient Safety to support the Trust to improve, grow and become an even safer organisation.

The aim of the programme has been to focus on simple goals for all patients across the Trust each month. These goals focus on key areas and raise the awareness of patient care issues. The first six months of the Six Steps to Patient Safety was celebrated during World Patient Safety week with publication of the results and launching of the new steps. Michelle Greene, Deputy Medical Director said: “Six Steps to Safety has already made a real and tangible difference to our services, making them even safer which is absolutely fundamental. Importantly, the Six Steps approach has been led by staff – they are identifying areas for improvement and then leading the work to ensure changes are made and sustained.”

Staff lead our safety work: Patient Safety Advocates

To recognise colleagues who have gone above and beyond in their daily roles for Patient Safety, Patient Safety Advocate Awards were introduced. Staff nominate each other monthly identifying the work individuals have undertaken to raise safety and quality across the organisation.

Michelle added: “We want to recognise everyone’s work to improve patient safety. It doesn’t matter where in the hospital they work, from housekeepers and nurses to administration staff, anyone can contribute to, and be nominated for, the work they do to improve patient safety.” Already, 25 staff have been awarded as Patient Safety Advocates; each of them received a badge and certificate to recognise their contributions to safety. In September we marked the annual Patient Safety Day. World Patient Safety Day calls for concerted action by all countries and international partners to improve patient safety. This year the global theme is medication safety.

Dr Michelle Greene presents Bincynol Mathew, Staff nurse, a Safety Ambassador, with her certificate

Celebrating World Patient Safety Day

To recognise all the work being undertaken across the Trust for patient safety and share the learning wider, the staff set up a week of exciting events across both sites for all our staff.

Dr Michelle Greene, Deputy Medical Director (pictured) said: “The aim was to raise the profile of what we are doing to improve patient safety. We looked at different way to share the learning, these included quizzes, presentations and information given in a number of different formats. This encouraged all staff members to form collaborative links and resources were shared across the trust.

“Patient Safety Week was an opportunity for colleagues to meet each other and find out what others have been doing to improve safety for our patients. It was a fun week for staff with plenty of sharing - learning, education and support to complete the Trust’s many safety initiatives.”