News / HFMA seeks climate volunteers

A workshop organised by the HFMA and the NHS Sustainable Development Unit (NHS SDU) will look to identify the key steps finance professionals can take to mitigate climate change, contribute to public health and save money and resources.

The joint work follows on from the HFMA briefing, published in December, Carbon reduction in the NHS: a role for finance. The NHS SDU wants to use the workshop to identify five ‘to survive and prosper’ duties, responsibilities and high-impact actions all healthcare finance professionals could take to support the delivery of sustainable care.

The session and proposed publication is part of a programme of work by the NHS SDU to develop similar guides across a range of NHS professions.

A spokesman for the NHS SDU said finance managers had been highlighted because of their ‘unique cross-functional position in the NHS’. He added: ‘They have a key role in ensuring resources are used efficiently, the overall carbon footprint of the health sector is reduced and the improvement of health services and the health of the population continues to progress in the face of dramatic growth reduction.’

The HFMA has agreed to pull together delegates for a workshop, which will be hosted by the NHS SDU. The aim will be to provide a representative sample from across trusts, foundation trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities.

Finance directors or finance managers interested in getting involved with this project should email the HFMA at the address below. The NHS SDU is also keen to receive ideas for high-impact actions that healthcare finance managers should take to save money and reduce carbon.

Please email any ideas and expressions of interest about getting involved in the session to [email protected].