The road to a greener hospital

The healthcare industry has as its major objective, the improvement of the health of the population. With this in mind it is a complete contradiction for hospitals to pollute the environment or unnecessarily consume resources. As part of the implementation of an environmental management system, we analysed the different environmental impacts the National Maternity Hospital has on the environment. In particular, we quantified the consumption of energy, water and wastes produced.

Reduction of negative environmental impacts and cost savings can easily be achieved. Energy consumption can decrease by 20%, water consumption by 15%. Proper waste segregation requires continuous staff training and can result in reductions of up to 40% of healthcare risk waste.

common sense, policies and procedures applied result in reductions of environmental impacts. Environmental management systems do not manage themselves and require dedicated staff to be successful. Hospital are obliged morally and legislatively to minimise environmental impacts by ensuring efficient use of resources.