Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Launches Green Plan 2025–2028 to Advance NHS Net Zero Goals
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has launched its ambitious Green Plan 2025–2028, outlining a clear, actionable roadmap to reduce its environmental impact and actively support the NHS’s Net Zero targets. The plan reflects the Trust’s commitment to healthcare sustainability, climate resilience, and delivering high-quality care in a changing environment.
The newly published Green Plan sets out how Oxford Health will work towards achieving net zero carbon emissions for directly controlled sources by 2040, and for indirect emissions by 2045, aligning with the wider NHS goal of becoming the world’s first net zero health system.
The Green Plan 2025–2028 embeds sustainability across all aspects of the Trust’s operations, including clinical care, estates and facilities, supply chain, transport, digital services, and biodiversity. It prioritises both environmental impact reduction and climate adaptation to protect patient wellbeing in the face of extreme weather events.
Key strategies in the plan include:
- Transitioning to a more energy-efficient NHS estate
- Implementing low-carbon digital healthcare solutions
- Decarbonising the supply chain, including pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Preparing services and infrastructure to withstand climate-related events such as heatwaves, flooding, and storms
Heather Smith, Chief Finance Officer at Oxford Health, said:
“We’re proud to share our Green Plan, which reflects both our Trust’s values and our responsibility to future generations. The impacts of climate change are already affecting health and healthcare services—our plan directly supports the NHS’s Net Zero strategy while ensuring that excellent patient care remains central to everything we do.”
The plan also highlights how everyday decisions across the Trust—from procurement to clinical practice—can support carbon reduction in healthcare. Staff engagement and empowerment are central to its success, with the Trust encouraging small, practical changes that add up to measurable environmental benefits.
John Upham, Sustainability Manager at Oxford Health, added:
“This plan will guide how we transform services and plan future developments with sustainability at their core. We want to embed green thinking across every department, and we invite our staff, partners, and communities to be part of this journey toward climate-smart healthcare.”
Oxford Health’s Green Plan marks a significant step forward in integrating sustainability into the fabric of NHS care delivery, ensuring the Trust is not only reducing its footprint but also building a climate-resilient health service that supports healthier lives and a healthier planet.
