Topic outline

  • General

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      • The aim of this course is to encourage you to consider health and the provision of healthcare within the context of the climate and ecological crisis.
      • Delivery of healthcare is responsible for around 5% of our nation鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions. NHS Scotland has committed to being a net zero emitter by 2045 and is making changes to healthcare delivery to achieve this. 
      • It is important that Healthcare providers are  involved and leading the process of climate change mitigation . This also allows us to simultaneously improve health and narrow the health gap between rich and poor.
      • We invite participants to consider what this means for us as healthcare professionals. What is our role as doctors amid this global health crisis?  How can we adapt the way we practice to deliver healthcare more sustainably
      • OPTION TO BE BASED IN RAIGMORE, INVERNESS (accommodation can only be provided for part of the SSC)


      Course Coordinator:  Dr Morven Wilson and Dr Alison Jack  

      Faculty:       Dr Kenneth Barker, Dr Hal Robinson, Dr Dan Baraclough, Dr Stephen Thomas, Ms Ailsa Villegas

      this course is capped at 8 students

    • File icon
      ME33SM Course Overview - Dr Gemma Bradley May26 File

  • What skills does this course develop?

    • You will;

        路     gain an understanding of the principles of sustainable healthcare; how the delivery of healthcare contributes to climate change and how climate change impacts the populations鈥� physical and mental health.

        路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; gain an understanding of the interconnection between healthy ecosystems, healthy people and local community empowerment.

        路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;  consider the concept of health and climate justice: the unequal distribution of environmental degradation with the social and political challenges that it creates, as well as the impact of public policy.

        路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;  consider the future impacts of climate change, population growth and migration and the creation of a healthcare system resilient to these changes.

        路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;  consider: the role of the NHS as an 鈥渁nchor organisation鈥�; the role of healthcare professionals鈥� trusted voices in society; and how we communicate the concept of the climate crisis as a health crisis.

        路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;  consider health and climate co-benefits: the ways in which we can reduce our environmental impact, whilst simultaneously improving health and narrowing the health gap.

        路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;  consider the health impacts of climate change from a global health perspective.

        路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;  develop research, critical reading and writing skills.

        路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;  develop independent working, project planning and time management skills

        路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;  develop communication and presentation skills.

  • How will I be assessed?

    • Project report 鈥� 3500 words (80%)

      o   Projects may cover a wide variety of topics:

      • You may choose to focus on adaptations to a specific aspect of healthcare delivery in order to maintain or improve quality, whilst lowering the environmental impacts.
      • You could choose to investigate patients鈥� or healthcare professionals鈥� attitudes and ideas in relation to climate change mitigation and health.
      • You  could conduct a project focusing on social prescribing and non-pharmacological interventions in healthcare.
      • The list goes on....
      • The faculty have a bank of potential projects, but we are also open to supporting you to develop your own ideas.  Perhaps you have an area of interest in relation to climate change and health that you would like to explore further?

      Poster and oral presentation (20%)

  • What will the timetable be like?

    • The timetable will be flexible to suit resources.  You will have a weekly meeting with the course co-ordinator as well as regular meetings with their project tutor.  The timetable will also include weekly tutorials with various faculty members and other allied agencies on subjects including but not limited to: the Green Theatres Project; social prescribing; sustainable respiratory care; Public Health and health and climate co-benefits.


  • What did previous students think about this course?

    • Student view 20-21

      "Enthusiastic staff, interesting teaching sessions and it was good to be up in Inverness. The staff were very helpful with my project."

      "Realising that small changes in healthcare add up cumulatively, leading to massive changes impacting positively quality of care, the environment and the community."

  • What work have previous students done on this course?

    • 路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;   Access to Green Space.

      路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;   Plastic Reduction in the management of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia.

      路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;   The impacts of COVID on PPE and waste.

      路&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;   The impact of Entonox on clinical staff and the environment.

      Amongst others!.

  • Anything else to consider?

    • This course can be  taken as a residential placement in the Highlands. UGTC and Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. Accommodation will be provided.