This week Dr Kat Ralston discusses sustainability in healthcare with Dr Shauna Golden. They explore why striving for individual perfection isn't the answer, and discuss the importance of using your sphere of influence to drive change. They share practical tips on how you can improve sustainability where you work, including projects that are 'win-win' - saving the planet, saving money and improving staff and patient experience.

Dr Shauna Golden has a background in Emergency Medicine and was the first Medical Education Fellow in Sustainability in NHS Lothian. She studied and trained in Ireland, became interested in the climate crisis while working in Australia, and thereafter completed a Masters in Global Health Policy at The University of Edinburgh.

Dr Kat Ralston is a Geriatric Medicine Registrar and member of the RCPE Trainees and Members’ Committee, currently working in Edinburgh.

-- Links --

Sustainable QIhttps://www.susqi.org/

Sustainable QI specialtieshttps://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/what-we-do/sustainable-specialties

Mary Robinson podcasthttps://www.mothersofinvention.online/

NHS Scotland Strategyhttps://www.gov.scot/publications/nhs-scotland-climate-emergency-sustainability-strategy-2022-2026/

NHS Lothian Climate Challenge Grantshttps://nhslothiancharity.org/apply-for-funding/climate-challenge-grants/

Charing Cross Quality Improvement projecthttps://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/whats-already-happening/reducing-unnecessary-cannulation-at-charing-cross-hospital/

Centre of sustainable healthcarehttps://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk

-- Related content --

RCPE Fellows & Members can explore planetary health content on the Education Portal: https://learning.rcpe.ac.uk/tag/index.php?tc=1&tag=Planetary%20Health&ta=2&excl=1

Recording date: 6 July 2023

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