Brighton researchers join national project to decarbonise healthcare delivery

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), this transdisciplinary hub brings together researchers, NHS partners, and policymakers to develop new ways to reduce the environmental impact of health and care services across the UK. Over the next five years, the £6 million project will design, test and evaluate policies, frameworks and tools that can help meet the country’s target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Healthcare in England is estimated to contribute between 4% and 5% of national emissions, and around 40% of all emissions generated by the public sector. 

Dr Theo Fotis

This new hub will focus on reducing the carbon footprint of healthcare commissioning and service delivery, from procurement and supply chains to estates, clinical practice, and community-based care.

As a core partner, the University of Brighton will lead work on the co-production and community engagement, drawing on its track record in developing the award-winning Digital Health Living Lab that co-creates health technologies and solutions with patients, carers and frontline professionals.

Dr Theo Fotis, who is an expert in Digital Health at the University of Brighton’s School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences, said: “Our participation in this national NIHR hub highlights Brighton’s longstanding commitment to innovation in healthcare and sustainability. The decarbonisation of health systems isn’t just about technology; it’s about redesigning care with people and communities at the centre. By bringing together patients, clinicians and researchers, we aim to create models that are both environmentally responsible and socially equitable.

“This is a unique opportunity for Brighton to apply our transdisciplinary expertise from health and design to behavioural science to one of the biggest challenges facing modern healthcare: achieving net zero without compromising care.”

The hub is led by Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), in partnership with the University of Brighton, University of Sussex, Aston University, University of West London, University of Nottingham, and a network of NHS and local partners across the country.

The green healthcare hub is one of seven newly created hubs benefiting from a £42m investment by the NIHR to accelerate the UK’s transition to a sustainable and climate-resilient future.

Each hub will receive up to £6m to develop innovative ways to drive the UK’s transition to net zero across five challenge areas, including transport and the built environment, the indoor environment, sustainable diets, extreme weather and decarbonising health and social care pathways.

They will deliver high-impact research focused on reducing health inequalities. They will also undertake research into developing a standardised way to measure the trade-offs and unintended consequences as part of these measures.