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 QI

https://www.susqi.org/

Sustainable QI specialties

https://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/what-we-do/sustainable-specialties

Mary Robinson podcast

https://www.mothersofinvention.online/

NHS Scotland Strategy

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

NHS Lothian Climate Challenge Grants

https://nhslothiancharity.org/apply-for-funding/climate-challenge-grants/

Charing Cross Quality Improvement project

https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/whats-already-happening/reducing-unnecessary-cannulation-at-charing-cross-hospital/

Centre of sustainable healthcare

https://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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