1023 Implementation of NHS Net Zero: An Analysis of Clinician Engagement and Quality Improvement

Aim Since the NHS Net zero report in 2020, UK hospital trusts have been working to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Henceforth, sustainability leads and working groups have been appointed to formulate and implement “Green Plans”. Clinician involvement and quality improvement (QI) are crucial to achieving net zero emissions. 133 Hospital Trusts in England were surveyed, to establish the extent to which sustainability has been embedded into clinical governance and quality improvement. Method 130 NHS Trusts in England were contacted during two time periods between 2021 and 2023 using Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. Each trust received a standardised sustainability questionnaire involving induction programmes, clinical governance, audits, QI and research projects. Trusts were required to respond within 20 working days upon receiving an FOI request. Follow-up emails were sent to trusts which did not respond within the timeframe. Requests for further clarification were answered. Data collection and extraction were undertaken using an Excel spreadsheet. Results In 2023 sustainability was identified as the theme of 38.8% of audits, QI, or research projects. Most trusts had a sustainability working group (70.7%), the majority of trusts had 0-5 clinicians in their sustainability working group (44.4%). 73.2% of respondents had a sustainability lead, 22.4% included sustainability in clinical governance meetings, and 18.1% included sustainability in junior doctor inductions. Conclusions Clinicians remain poorly engaged in matters relating to healthcare sustainability and carbon impact. This may represent a glaring omission in Trusts’ Net Zero plans and a missed opportunity to maximise progress.