NHS Staff Engage in Water-Saving Initiatives to Support Environmental Goals
Staff from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, encompassing both clinical and non-clinical roles, recently took part in dedicated environmental days. These events focused on educating participants about practical methods to conserve water in both home and workplace settings, aiming to bolster water efficiency and advance Green Plan objectives.
Collaborative Efforts for Sustainability
The activities were organized in partnership with business water retailer Water Plus, which conducted engagement and awareness sessions at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport and Tameside General Hospital. These sessions provided water-saving tips to employees, emphasizing the role of increased water efficiency in reducing carbon emissions and accelerating decarbonisation efforts across NHS sites in England and Scotland.
Laura Swann, sustainability manager at the trusts, highlighted the initiative's impact: "By working together, we are empowering staff with simple, practical ways to save water every day. This partnership strengthens our commitment to sustainability, helping us protect vital resources, reduce environmental impact, and build a greener future for our community."
Net Zero Targets and Green Plans
In August 2025, the two trusts adopted a Joint Green Plan with ambitious targets: achieving Net Zero by 2040 for emissions they directly control (the NHS Carbon Footprint) and by 2045 for emissions they can influence (NHS Carbon Footprint Plus). This collaborative programme facilitates the sharing of best practices to drive progress toward these goals.
This initiative builds upon Stockport NHS Foundation Trust's Green Plan, launched in 2022, which has included recent environmental actions such as tree-planting. Additionally, both trusts are implementing proactive water management strategies by installing data loggers on water meters. These loggers feed daily water data into an analysis portal, enhancing operational resilience and identifying further efficiency opportunities.
Interactive Engagement and Practical Outcomes
During the events, Water Plus ran a three-question quiz to engage staff around water awareness, covering topics like the volume of water used in a six-minute shower. More than 100 participants from the trusts attended the sessions, where shower-timers were distributed to encourage water conservation.
Dan Hutchins, a Water Plus key account manager who led the events, commented: "A running tap could use between six and nine litres a minute, and many hadn't realised how much water can be used in that time. The quiz helped people identify more actions to take, including reporting dripping taps. It was great to engage with staff in various roles, all aware of how to report leaks, emphasizing how everyone can make a difference."
He added that the sessions heightened awareness among staff about water usage patterns at work and home, reinforcing the importance of efficiency in daily routines.
Stepping Hill Hospital is located in Stockport, Greater Manchester, serving as a key site for these sustainability efforts. The trusts' ongoing commitment to environmental initiatives underscores their dedication to creating a more sustainable healthcare system for the community.
