Author: Greg Quinn, BD, https://www.bd.com/en-uk
When you hear the word “sustainability” it is usually in the context of the environment. While that is certainly a major area of concern, sustainability in Health and Social Care is a paramount issue. The NHS has been facing unprecedented pressures since at least 2010, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic, although, the health and social care challenges in the U.K. are rooted in the workforce agenda. All of this is now compounded by waiting lists for consultant-led elective care[1] and staff shortages.[2] How and when we navigate through growing obstacles interrupting the delivery of care across the U.K. is something we must prioritise now.
Leading the MedTech Sustainability action plan
For 125 years, BD has been advancing the world of health. In all that time, our experience in providing solutions for an array of healthcare complexities affords us insight into historic sustainability. We are proud of our ten-year sustainability plan and commitment which will evolve to ensure it meets the needs of our business and stakeholders in an ever-changing world. Starting with our Plymouth manufacturing facility, where we launched our Sustainable Medical Technology Institute, we have initiated real eco-friendly actions, established a responsible and diverse supply chain, and ensured workforce equity and transparency in an effort to reduce our impact, sustainably, on the natural world in line with national targets.
Creating agile supply chains
With ongoing economic and geographic instability, we must create supply chains that are adaptable to disruption, sensitive to the environment, and robust for population safety. By developing effective frameworks by which the best medicines, devices and technologies can be provided without compromising quality, contributes towards more affordable, and accessible care in a more sustainable fashion. To make this a reality, it must include ever evolving sustainable manufacturing innovation allied to best practice logistics support.
Ensuring patient and worker safety
The links across where staff shortages negatively impact worker mental health and wellbeing also risk poor patient safety. Training and education play an integral part in ensuring patient and worker safety, long-term. Industry support, patient coalitions, and strong health policy can help establish a sustainable workforce, alleviate staff pressure and optimise patient care.
Ongoing provision of personalised and timely support
An effective personalised approach to health and social services connects people to their communities and to their environment. This requires an integrated resolution which takes into consideration the needs of the patient as well as the needs of the services that patients will need to access, ensuring they receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time.
Our current challenges are not insurmountable. Through strategic partnerships, industrial collaboration, technology and innovation, we are building a sustainable integrated Health and Social Care model that benefits all stakeholders.
[1] British Medical Association (BMA). NHS backlog data analysis. September 2022. Available at: https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/nhs-backlog-data-analysis. Last accessed: September 2022
[2] House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee. 2022. Workforce: recruitment, training and retention in health and social care. Available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/23246/documents/169640/default/. Last accessed: September 2022
