Sustainability at Newcastle School of Medicine
At Newcastle University School of Medicine, the environment is an important factor in everything we do.
We are proud to contribute to the university’s wider sustainability and energy use goals. However, as a medical school, we also recognise our specific responsibility in developing and promoting environmentally-friendly healthcare.
How is healthcare linked to sustainability?
From single-use plastic and harmful chemicals to energy use in hospitals, healthcare systems have a significant impact on our environment.
Climate change also presents many health challenges, such rising respiratory illness, vector-borne diseases and extreme weather events.
As a medical school, we aim to be part of building an environmentally responsible healthcare system. We have also designed our curriculum to empower our students to become knowledgeable, sustainability-focused healthcare professionals.
The health sector contributes to approximately 5% of global emissions.
Making our medical school more sustainable
We aim to manage our School in a sustainable manner. We follow the University’s Environmental Sustainability Policy and work with the Medical Schools Council’s Education for Sustainable Healthcare Alliance.
Our primary and secondary care staff are trained in delivering teaching on sustainable medicine and engaging in Sustainable Quality Improvement (SusQI) projects.
We are currently working on a project to help students travel to placements in a more active and environmentally-friendly way. We are gathering travel information for all primary care placements, allowing students easy access to information about their journey and how they can make it more sustainable.
Sustainability in the medical curriculum
At Newcastle University School of Medicine, we are increasing sustainability themes within our curriculum.
Our students become professionals who understand sustainable clinical practice and are prepared for the health challenges presented by climate change.
The topics studied by our students include:
- The impact of air pollution on lung disease and respiratory illness
- Environmental ethics and their relevance to medicine
- Health inequalities, climate change and the global impact on marginalised and indigenous communities
- Organisational sustainability policies and the legal frameworks for reducing carbon emissions
We have also introduced a mandatory Sustainable Quality Improvement (SusQI) project for students in their fifth year. This is assessed through a presentation given to your peers.
Topics of previous SusQI projects have included:
- Swapping from DPI to MDI inhalers
- Inhaler recycling
- Promoting active travel to primary care
- Sustainable prescribing (for example, vaginal oestrogen and the impact of medication reviews)
- The impact of a practice allotment on mental health
Research on sustainability education
Promoting sustainability in the curriculum also forms part of our research:
- Chambers, J. et al. (2024) 'Sustainable quality improvement: An essential ingredient for sustainability in modern medical curricula?,' The Clinical Teacher, 21(5), p. e13776.
- Shaw, E. et al. (2021) 'AMEE Consensus Statement: Planetary health and education for sustainable healthcare,' Medical Teacher, 43(3), pp. 272–286.
Student Societies
A group of students united by a shared goal of improving sustainability in healthcare. The society works with the School of Medicine and organises talks, research opportunities, and social activities such as beach clean ups and charity shop crawls.
Newcastle’s branch of the student-led national charity promoting health equality across the world. The group runs workshops, talks and campaigns, as well as providing opportunities to make a difference on a national and international level.
Other opportunities
Use your knowledge and skills to help local schools, nurseries and colleges on their sustainability journey. You could teach children about the environment and support staff and governors to run their settings more sustainably.
Email climateambassadors.ne@ncl.ac.uk for more information.
This local group of GPs meets every 6 weeks to discuss sustainability in primary care. Medical students are welcome to attend meetings.
The local branch of the national organisation of health workers fighting for health justice and equality. The North East branch is currently focused on a climate-based project. Medical students are welcome.
Email northeast@medact.org for more information.
Meet the team
Contact us
Professor Hugh Alberti - hugh.alberti@ncl.ac.uk
Dr Jenna Chambers - jenna.chambers1@ncl.ac.uk
Dr Emily Shaw - emily.shaw@ncl.ac.uk